Transplant Procedure
Once a donor heart has become available for you,
you will move quickly to prepare for surgery.
If you are waiting in the hospital, you will continue
to wait in your room until you are taken to the
operating room. If you are home, we will direct
you where to go and you will be taken to a patient
room in preparation for surgery.
A chest X-ray and blood test will be done immediately
prior to surgery. We ask that you do not eat or
drink after being notified about the transplant.
The surgery will last anywhere from 6 to 12 hours.
From surgery, you will be taken directly to the
surgical intensive care unit. Once you have recovered
from anesthesia, you will be transferred to the
step down unit, usually two to three days after
surgery.
You will be assigned a primary nurse on the step
down unit who will work with the transplant member
to educate you and your family about medications,
lifestyle and activity. Before you go home, an
echocardiogram and biopsy will be performed to
determine how well the new heart is functioning.
An average length of stay after transplant is
two to three weeks.
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