Heart-Lung Transplant

A surgical procedure to remove severely diseased and damaged heart and lungs and replace them with a healthy heart and lungs from a donor who has died.

Parts of the Body Involved

Heart, lungs, chest

Reasons for Procedure

A heart-lung transplant is done to treat irreversible, life-threatening lung diseases that affect the heart and cannot be managed using any other method. Transplant candidates are severely disabled by their heart-lung condition but otherwise are in good health. The procedure is most often performed on patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (an increase in blood pressure in the lung's blood vessels), either acquired or due to a birth defect.

Risk Factors for Complications during the Procedure

  • Pre-existing heart or lung condition
  • Age: 60 or older
  • Pre-existing kidney or liver disease
  • Diabetes

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Because of a shortage of donors, you may be on a transplant list for some time. You may need to carry a pager or cellular phone at all times so that the transplant team can reach you if donor organs become available.

Your doctor will likely do the following:
  • Physical exam
  • Echocardiogram

Outcome

The surgical site in your breastbone heals in four to six weeks.

To reduce the chance that your body will reject the donor organs, you will need to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of your life. Your doctors will biopsy your new heart regularly to monitor for signs of rejection. Additional drugs may be ordered to manage side effects. These drugs may increase your risk of developing cancer, kidney disease, and weak bones.

About 60% of heart-lung transplant patients live more than one year after surgery. Most return to normal activities, including work and exercise. A specific rehabilitation program may be suggested to speed recovery and restore cardiovascular health. The transplanted heart responds slowly to increases in physical activity.

Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occurs

  • Signs of infection, including fever and chills; you are more susceptible to infections while taking immunosuppressive medications
  • Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
  • Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe nausea or vomiting
  • Coughing up blood
  • Sudden headache or feeling faint
  • Sensation of your heart fluttering, missing beats, or beating erratically
  • Pain, burning, urgency, frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine