Life After a Pediatric Heart Transplant
Nowadays, a heart transplant is a relatively routine surgery. However, transplants require sophisticated technologies, tools and techniques, as well as the advanced knowledge and skills of cardiologist-surgeons. Most pediatric heart transplant patients and their families have valid questions about the procedure, particularly after the surgery.
What Can Be Expected After the Surgery?
Each heart transplant patient is a unique case and, thus, the recovery time is different with each patient. The recovery period depends on several factors, such age, physical condition and fitness level, as well as the type of heart disease and complexity of the operation.
For example, patients who come in as extremist cases, are bridged with a device, or are on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), typically have longer recovery periods in the hospital. Patients who come in as elective cases, are in at-home fusion programs, or who have never had surgery are more likely to be discharged a week after the operation.
Doctors suggest letting the body heal after the operation and adjust to its new heart. In successful heart transplants, there will be plenty of time for relatively normal activities that contribute to a good quality of life.
Upon discharge, patients and their families are required to live near the hospital for approximately three months to monitor their progress. Support persons are a must for pediatric patients since close monitoring of early signs of rejection and infection is required. This can also be said for adopting a healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle habits.
What Type of Scar Can be Expected?
The most common scar is a midline chest incision, which allows for greater access to the diseased heart and its transplantation by the new heart. Surgeons usually follow a previous midline chest incision on patients who already have it but, in many cases, small incisions are made toward the chest’s lower part for the assist device.
The scar may be visible to the naked eye but it is not as disturbing a sight as many patients fear it to be. Many even see it as a brand of courage!
What Is the Long-term Prognosis?
It must be emphasized that pediatric heart transplantation is an integrated therapy for heart disease instead of a one-time operation. When it is successful, the patients enjoy a good quality of life and are able to enjoy physical activities that were once off limits.
Children have such amazing resilience that they can even participate in certain sports (with limitations, such as avoidance of high bleeding risk). Of course, several factors must be considered in how active they are and how long they can enjoy life after the surgery.
In general, the median survival is 20-22 years. Infants, for example, have a median survival of 19 years while adolescents have 13 years.
Parents and guardians must always remember that they have important roles and responsibilities in keeping their children as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Their compliance with medications and lifestyle habits is just as important as the cooperation of their patients.
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About Healthpointe:
Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles county, Orange county, San Bernardino county and Riverside county). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including Irwindale, which is conveniently located near Duarte, Azusa, West Covina, Vincent, and Mayflower Village. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit https://healthpointe.net.