The heart is located in the center-left portion of the chest and pumps oxygen-rich blood to all cells in the body. The United States performs over 2,000 heart transplants annually, with survival rates of 81% after 1 year and around 68% after 5 years. Heart transplants may be required for severe heart failure or defects that cannot be treated otherwise. Recipients must meet health criteria and take anti-rejection drugs lifelong, while living with cardiac monitoring and dietary restrictions after transplant.

1. Heart Transplants
Chloe & Shannon

2. Body System & Location
The heart is It is located
part of the in the
circulatory center- left
system portion of
your chest

3. Heart’s Function
• Pumps oxygen rich blood to every living
cell in the body.
• Pumps 2,000 gallons of blood a day.

4. Statistics
• The U.S. performs
more than 2,000
heart transplants
each year.
• About 81% of all
people who receive
heart transplants
survive for at least 1
year.
• About 75% survive 3
years, and 68%
survive 5 years. About
50% survive 10 years.

5. • There are
approximately 3,000
patients on the heart
transplant waiting
list.
• 10% of those waiting
will die.
• Wait times vary from
days to several
months and will
depend on a
recipient's blood type
and condition

6. Medical Conditions
• Severe, spreading chest pain
that can no longer be treated
with medications or other
surgery.
• Severe heart failure that
medicine or surgery can’t fix.
• Heart defects that were
present at birth.
• Abnormal heart beats that
are life threatening and will
not respond to other
treatments.

7. Donor Requirements
• Donor must be brain
dead and no older than
65 years old
• Donor can not have a
history of heart disease
or blood disease
(HIV/hepatitis) and
must be an organ
donor.
• Recommend that the
donor’s heart not be
without blood
circulation for more

8. Recipient’s Requirements
• Can’t be malnourished.
• Must be under 55 years old
• Have had no severe
strokes, dementia, HIV, hepatit
is or cancer
• They can not have insulin-
dependent diabetes or other
organs that do not work
properly
• Have kidney, lung, nerve, or
liver diseases.
• They must not smoke or abuse
alcohol and any other drugs.

9. Where to Go
• Hahnemann University
Hospital
• Penn State Milton S. Hershey
Medical Center
• University of Pennsylvania
Medical Center And
Health System
• Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital
• Temple University Hospital
• Children’s Hospital of
Pittsburgh of UPMC
• Allegheny General Hospital
• University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center-Presbyterian

10. The Procedure
• Usually 4-12
hours, or longer.
• Expect to stay in the
hospital for 7-21 days
after receiving a
heart.
• The cost is $50,000
to $287,00
• The average cost is
$148,000
• Donor doesn’t
pay, they’re dead.

11. Anti-Rejection Meds
• Cyclosporin
• Prednisone
• Tacrolimus
• Cell-Cept

12. Post Surgery
• Biopsies are done every
month during the first 6 to
12 months after transplant
• must take drugs that
prevent transplant rejection
for the rest of your life.
• Go back to normal
activiteswhen they feel they
are ok—Doctor permitting
• Avoid vigorous physical
activity.
• To make sure that you do
not develop coronary
disease after a
transplant, you will have
cardiac catheterization
every year.

13. Post Transplant Diet
• Avoid greasy, fatty foods
• No smoking
• Very restrictive with alcohol and caffeine