Heart – Lung Transplant-Part I

Persons with serious conditions of heart and lung problems can be treated with a procedure involving replacement of both the heart and the lungs by using the organs of a donor which is called Heart-Lung Transplant. The maximum age for a transplant varies from place to place, however the upper limit is in the range of 60 years to 65 years.
Every year as per the statistic available there are about 50 transplants of heart-lungs which are undertaken in UK. This involves treating people suffering from congenital disease of the heart, PPH (Primary pulmonary hypertension) and pulmonary hypertension and those suffering from severe lung disease.
PROCEDURE FOR HEART-LUNG TRANSPLANT
After conducting the medical examination of the person requiring the transplant, if the doctor feels that transplant is suitable, consent will be obtained from the person for the surgery. After the consent, the details of tissue type, the blood group will be recorded in the database of the UK Transplant computers.
Search for the availability of a suitable organ can range from a few days or weeks to several years, but it is advisable to be in the prepared mode always as the availability of the organ is sudden and can happen at any hour of night or day and make sure that the latest contact number of the person requiring transplant along with the up to date contact number of the family and friends is always available with the Transplant centre. One can also carry a mobile phone or a pager at all the times so that one is always contactable. It is also advisable to have a bag ready containing all the things like toiletries, cloths and books which may be required in the hospital.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and the person will not be conscious when the operation will be performed. Once the person becomes unconscious an incision into the middle of the chest is made to remove the old lung and the heart. The support to the circulation of blood in the body will then be switched to the heart-lung machine by making a connection from the body to the machine by using various kinds of tubes. This support will continue till the new heart and the lungs take over successfully from the machine.
When the old heart and lungs are removed from the body only the “cuff” of the upper part of the heart called atrium is left and the end part of the main airway is left inside the body. Then the new heart –lung “block” is inserted into the body and stitched into the body from where the old heart-lung had been removed. Similarly the main blood vessel (aorta) of the body is also stitched to the aorta of the new heart. After the new heart-lung is sewn, then wiring of the breast bone is completed and final step is to stitch up the incision. This is a very time consuming surgery and it may take several hours to complete the entire procedure.