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Heart Transplant Evaluation

  1. The Evaluation
  2. Roadblocks To Transplant
 

Once you and your cardiologist agree that a donor heart is an option for you, you must find out whether the rest of your body is up to it. The heart transplant procedure includes an open-heart surgery and a lifetime of taking multiple drugs. There can be a lot of mental and emotional stress from the demands of constant medical treatment and follow-up. The reality of that intensive medical care begins now - with your transplant evaluation.
     These procedures may be slightly different than what you will face, since each transplant center sets its own testing procedures. Your medical insurance coverage for heart transplant expenses must be verified before your evaluation. Expect evaluation to last from 3 to 7 days.

Skin tests
You will have sterile antigens prepared from certain germs (like mumps) placed just under your skin, probably on your arm(s) in a series of "pricks." Each location will be circled and numbered on your arm. This test may take up to a 4-day period, during which you cannot wash off those numbers/circles. At 15 minutes, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after the "prick" you will have those locations on your arm checked. The size and type of reaction will be recorded. Redness and swelling may occur. This provides information about how your immune system reacts to certain germs. This will include a skin test to see how your body reacts to tuberculosis, since high reactivity can become serious with extended prednisone use
Chest x-ray
checks for respiratory tract problems and shows heart size. Quick and painless
24-hour Holter monitor
checks for repeated heart arrhythmia. Annoying but painless
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
checks heart rhythm. Quick and painless
Treadmill (stress) test
checks your heart's ability to function under stress (exercise). A regular stress test can be difficult but is usually only painful if you have angina on exertion. If you have a Vo2max treadmill test, it will be harder
Pulmonary function test
checks lung function. You breathe into a tube with all the force you can muster for as long as possible. They say this won't collapse your lungs, but when doing it, you start to wonder <g>
Arterial blood gases test
checks amount of oxygen in your blood. A small needle is inserted into an artery - usually in your wrist - and blood is drawn. Unlike veins, arteries are deep beneath your skin, so the technician is trying to hit an artery he cannot see. This one may hurt
Right heart cath
measures pressures in pulmonary arteries and allows for biopsy - described here
MUGA
allows precise measurement of heart function and blood circulation, including locating blockages - described here
Echocardiogram
measures heart function, checks for valve damage, and more - described here
Dental exam
all dental repairs must be completed before you are placed on the transplant waiting list
CAT scan
checks for tumors. Any cancer disqualifies you
Blood testing
drawing blood to test for:
Urine culture
checks for infection in your urine: You know the drill - pee in the plastic cup
24-hour urine collection
Ever carry a gallon jug of that around with you all day? <g>
Cytotoxic antibody screen
gives information that helps minimize rejection
Endoscopy
tests for presence of ulcers, which invite infection and will be aggravated by post-transplant meds

Psychological testing is also done before you are placed on the waiting list for a heart. Your family must be involved. Some programs require that you designate a support person, who must accompany you on your visits to the transplant center. You and your support person will probably be required to watch a video describing the transplant process. The big thing to be accepted for heart transplant is committment. If the transplant team doubts your committment to the whole process, your chances of being accepted are lower.
     It is possible that if you are turned down by one transplant center during evaluation, that you may be accepted by another center. Of course, this is expensive, may involve travel, and may not be paid for by your health insurance. However, it is not unheard of.

Roadblocks to Transplant 

The following are general but common guidelines about what will prevent you from qualifying for a heart transplant. However, the rules vary from one heart transplant center to the next, with no true standardization. So talk to your own transplant center medical staff!

Pulmonary Hypertension
Severe PH (pulmonary hypertension) - meaning a PVR greater than 4 to 6 Woods units probably means no transplant. In heart recipients with PH, the new heart's right ventricle can't generate enough pressure to force blood to the lung's blood vessels because it has to fight such high pressures in the lungs. This causes right heart enlargement and heart failure.
     During transplant evaluation, it is important to see if high pulmonary pressures can be reversed with drugs. Inotropes, vasodilators, or prostaglandin may be used in this sort of testing. If pressures in the lungs' blood vessels can be reduced with drugs, those drugs can be used before transplant surgery to prevent acute right heart failure. Patients whose pulmonary pressures cannot be reversed may be considered for heart-lung transplant.
Diabetes
Serious organ damage from diabetes - such as retinopathy, kidney failure, or neuropathy - may mean no transplant. The steroids (prednisone) used after transplant can interfere with insulin production, resulting in borderline diabetes even in people who did not have diabetes before transplant.
Obesity
Obesity-related risks after transplant increase with a weight more than 120% of ideal body weight. A weight more than 140% of ideal body weight probably means no transplant. Body weight significantly affects transplant outcome, with fat people having higher risk of blocked arteries, infection, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Cancers
Cancer patients must be completely free of malignant disease. A disease-free period of less than one year is only acceptable when tumors have a good prognosis. A disease-free interval of more than one year is usually required in all patients with aggressive tumors.
Substance Abuse
Ongoing substance abuse almost certainly means no transplant - this includes smokers and alcoholics. All patients should have at least 3 months free from all substance abuse, with ongoing random testing.
Psychologic And Social Issues
Screening for psychosocial problems is required before heart transplant. Requirements include:
AIDS
Currently, if you have AIDS you will not get a heart transplant
Amyloidosis
Usually means no transplant
Organ Failure
Substantial chronic impairment of other vital organs that is irreversible means no transplant
Infections
A current active infection or recent pulmonary (lung) infection may mean no transplant

Material taken from manuals given to potential transplant recipients at transplant centers in the USA, from heart transplant recipients, and partly from a CME provided by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses - Updated August 29, 2002

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. I am not a doctor. Use the reference information at the end of each article to search MedLine for more complete and accurate information. All original copyrights apply. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. I am not a doctor. This web site and all its pages, graphics, and content copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Jon C.

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