Strong Heart and Vascular Center

Transplant

Surgery

A Match is Made

When you’re matched with a compatible donor you’ll get a call to come to the hospital. If the donor heart is at another hospital, our procurement team will travel there and bring it back.

When you arrive at the hospital, you’ll go through all the usual preparations for major surgery as well as additional tests specific to preparing you for transplant. Once our procurement team has looked at the donor heart and verified that it's compatible and in good condition, you’ll be taken to the operating room.

There are occasions when a donor heart is not suitable for transplant. When that happens, your surgery must be canceled. While this is a rare occurrence, it’s something that both you and your family must be prepared to handle.

Our surgeons spend up to seven hours to successfully complete a heart transplant.

Surgery

As soon as your heart is in the hospital - or has been deemed suitable if your donor is at Strong Memorial Hospital -- we begin. Since your immune system is activated the minute your new transplanted heart begins to beat, we administer your first dose of immunosuppressive drugs. Then anesthesia is administered and you’re on your way. The average time from the moment you go into the operating room to the time you come out is about four to seven hours. Your heart transplant coordinator will stay in touch with your family throughout your surgery.