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Heart Transplantation is considered the definitive treatment of advanced heart failure and is performed when the patient does not respond to treatment or conventional surgery.
Heart Transplantation explained in first person
Professionals and patients explain how you live with the disease
Do not give up! At times, it may seem like a mountain to climb, and a high one at that, but you shouldn’t give up, just keep going. What is most important is that an offer comes in and you recover well. You have to have hope and never give up.
Elena Sandoval
Cardiac surgeon
Don't be afraid, we have great professionals, we are in the best hospitals in the world and things are going well. And that a transplant gives you a very, very, very good quality of life.
Joan
Patient
A heart transplant is a surgical procedure where a patient’s ineffective heart is replaced by a donor's heart. It is considered the definitive treatment for advanced heart failure that does not respond satisfactorily to conventional treatments.
In Catalonia, approximately 60 transplants are carried out each year in patients over 18 years of age, and about six in patients under 18.
Before deciding that a patient can receive a heart transplant, the following steps are followed to try to allow the patient to keep their own heart:
A complete medical history and physical exam are performed.
Medication for heart failure is optimised.
Treatments are carried out to improve heart and artery function, as well as address the valves, any blockages, arrhythmia, and so on.
Therapeutic education to the patient about the disease so that it improves the habits of life that help to alleviate the symptoms.
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Substantiated information by:
Elena Sandoval Martínez
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Cardiovascular Surgery Department
Josefina Casal Rodríguez
Nurse
Cardiology Department
Judit Prats
Enfermera de la UCI
Servicio de Cardiología
M. Angeles Castel Lavilla
Cardiology Service
Cardiologist
Published: 15 July 2019
Updated: 15 July 2019
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