The heart is a muscular organ located in the middle of the chest slightly to the left. It consists of four chambers that squeeze and contort to create the flow of blood to and from the lungs and throughout the body. It is the main organ of the cardiovascular system.

Heart Function is to pump oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body through arteries and veins.

Facts about the Human Heart:

• Your heart beats 100,000 times in one day.
• Your heart pumps 1.5 gallons of blood per minute.
• The heart rate per minute for a woman is 8 beats faster than a man's heart.
• The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, and the left side pumps blood back to the body.

Reasons for heart transplantation:

Heart transplant surgeries are performed when the heart is not functioning efficiently and other treatments for heart problems are not effective, which leads to heart failure.

Diseases that can cause heart failure:

• Cardiomyopathy (weakness of the heart muscle)
• Coronary artery disease.
• Heart valve diseases.
• Congenital heart defects.
• Recurrent irregular dangerous heartbeats (ventricular arrhythmias) that are not controlled by other treatments.

How to Prevent Heart Diseases

• Quit smoking.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes daily.
• Follow a low-fat low-salt diet that is  rich in vegetables and fruits.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Get enough sleep.
• Manage factors that cause stress.
• Manage chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

What is the heart transplant procedure?

A heart transplant is a surgical procedure to replace a heart that is no longer functioning properly with a healthier heart from a deceased donor.

How can one donate a heart?

A person can express his desire to donate organs after death, including the heart, by registering their desire through the Tawakkalna application and sharing that desire with his family.

How long can a heart remain viable for transplant into a recipient's body after being removed from the donor's body?

The heart must be transplanted into the patient's body after removal from the donor's body within a period not exceeding 4 hours.

The duration of a heart transplant operation for the patient:

The duration of a heart transplant operation is typically between 4-6 hours during which the patient is under general anesthesia.

 

Important guidelines after a heart transplant:

They are usually determined by the medical team based on his/her health condition.

• The patient can leave the hospital within 2-3 weeks after the heart transplant surgery.
• The patient can resume normal activities within a few months.
• The medical team will advise the patient after the heart transplant surgery about activities to avoid during the recovery period.
• The patient must follow up on a regular basis with the medical team after heart transplant surgery.
• Avoid driving for 6-8 weeks (your doctor will determine the appropriate duration).
• Avoid lifting heavy things for at least 6 weeks after the surgery.
• Adhere to taking your medications as prescribed.
• Adhere to attending your medical appointments, and reschedule them if you cannot make it.

Complications of heart transplant surgery

• Blood clots or bleeding.
• Infection
• Procedure failure or the patient's body rejecting the heart.
• Vascular disease in the transplanted heart.
• Death or heart attack.