A heart transplant surgery requires replacing a damaged or diseased heart with a much healthier donor heart
A heart transplant surgery requires replacing a damaged or diseased heart with a much healthier donor heart. It is a treatment that is ideal for people who have tried other surgeries or medicines, but their heart conditions have not improved. The chance of survival after this surgery is good with the proper follow-up care.
Here is what a heart transplant patient can anticipate after surgery:
After a heart transplant surgery from one of the best heart hospitals in Mumbai, India, a patient is needed to keep in the intensive care unit (ICU). They have shifted a general hospital room after spending a couple of days in the Intensive Care Unit. The hospital stay lasts for a week or two.
After leaving the hospital, the patient is carefully monitored at the hospital transplant center by the transplant team. Because of the regular monitoring sessions, it is best to stay near the transplant center for the first 3 months. The patient is checked for any signs or symptoms of rejection, like tiredness, weight gain, shortness of breath, a fever, or abnormal urination. It is highly important to let the transplant team know if the patient experiences any of these symptoms.
The patients have a number of follow-up appointments at the transplant center which include regular tests, like heart biopsies, blood tests, echocardiograms, and electrocardiograms. To understand if the patient's body system is rejecting the new heart, they will have regular heart biopsies in the first few months after heart transplantation, when rejection is likely to take place. The frequency of essential biopsies decreases gradually.
Heart transplant patients really need to make a number of long-term adjustments after their surgery. These include:
Taking Immunosuppressant
Taking immunosuppressants to lower the immune system's activity to stop it from attacking the donated heart. Since the immune system will probably never entirely accept the new organ, the patient is needed to take a few of these medicines for the rest of their life.
Though, there are a number of side effects related to the consumption of immunosuppressants. These medicines may result in weight gain, stomach issues, hypertension, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, acne breakouts or facial hair.
2. Taking Care of Medications, Therapies and A Lifelong Care Plan
After a heart transplant, consuming the medicines as the doctor advises and adhering to a lifelong care plan is important. The doctor may provide patients particular instructions and lifestyle guidelines, such as working out, wearing sunscreen, having a well-balanced diet, and not using tobacco products. It is essential to take medicines regularly on time, for quicker recovery. Also, there needs to be a list maintained that keeps track of all the medicines. This proves useful in the event of an emergency.
3. Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation programs include workout and education to help enhance health and speed up the recovery process after the transplant. Many staff members trained in cardiac rehabilitation support patients in adapting to healthy lifestyle changes consisting of regular exercises and a heart-healthy diet.
4. Emotional Support
The new medical treatments and the tension of having a heart transplant may make patients feel overwhelmed. Many individuals who have had a heart transplant feel nervous about their health and life ahead. Speaking with any of the doctors in heart transplant hospitals really helps relieve stress. Furthermore, transplant centers usually have support groups and other resources to assist patients.
Results
Depending upon their health condition, most heart transplant surgery patients may manage to return to many of the day-to-day tasks like exercising, job, and taking part in hobbies and sports. Most people who receive a heart transplant in India experience a high quality of life if they get the correct follow-up care.