One of the most successful treatments for end-state heart failure is cardiac transplantation. This may be your best option if the prognosis of your heart failure is poor despite medication and devices. The transplant program will screen you and assess if you are a suitable candidate. To be listed by the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, patients must be formally approved by the transplant program.
If you receive transplant surgery, it occurs at a Heart and Vascular Institute of Florida facility by expert surgeons. The surgery is also aided by transplant cardiologists, critical care specialists, cardiac anesthesiologists, pathologists, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, social workers, dieticians, and pharmacists.
After the surgery, you must follow a strict regimen of follow up visits and medication. Immunosuppression is the most important factor of this regimen. These medications decrease the chance of rejection of your new heart by keeping your immune system in check. You must also commit to long term follow ups with the transplant program in order to monitor for rejection, adjust immunosuppression, and treat or prevent any other possible conditions.
