Frequently Asked Questions

Heart transplant means replacing one’s diseased heart with a healthy donated heart. An extremely complicated procedure, is suggested only when the heart failure is so severe that it cannot be managed with medication or any other mode of treatment. Cardiac care has evolved phenomenally in the recent times, enabling us to treat complex heart problems effectively - medically and surgically. However, if the condition of the heart is such that no medications or surgical solution can bring any sort of relief, we have no choice but choose heart transplant as the way ahead. Heart transplant is done in both adults and children; and Aster Centre of Excellence in Multi-Organ Transplant has a great team of doctors comprising adult and paediatric transplant experts.

Children and infants are also highly susceptible to heart disease and might require heart transplant due to severe cardiomyopathy (weak heart muscles) and congenital heart disease that cannot be medically managed. Some children who have already undergone corrective cardiac surgeries might also require heart transplant due to re-occurrence of problems (continued cardiac problems).

If your doctor recommends a heart transplant, there are many formalities and tests you will need to complete before you undergo the surgery. You will need to go through an extensive screening process involving Radiological and Pathological Investigations. Our transplant team comprising Cardiac Surgeons, Cardiologists, Cardiac Anaesthesiologists, Pulmonologists and Pathologists will thoroughly review your reports to ensure that you’re medical fit for the surgery. We will then enlist you on the Heart Transplant List till we get notified of a suitable donor. Remember, waiting for a heart transplant might be a long drawn one for getting a donor – a suitable donor – is not easy. We will continuously monitor your health during this waiting period through regular check-ups and investigations. As soon as we get information that there is a donor heart available, we will contact you and if all factors are favourable, the transplant will be performed.

The donor from whom you get a new heart is usually someone who would have signed up for organ donation before he or she died. The heart is surgically removed, with the full consent of the donor’s family, once the donor is certified brain-dead. The availability of donor organs are informed through an organ sharing network and the recipient is chosen based on the best possible match – with respect to the blood type, body type, recipient’s medical condition, and the waiting period. The religion/ race/ gender of the donor or the recipient does not matter (in any organ transplant for that matter) while determining the match. All donors are mandatorily screened for Hepatitis B and C and for HIV. When it comes to paediatric heart transplants, we make sure that your child gets the best care possible. Our team of experts comprises Paediatric Cardiac Surgeons and Paediatric Interventional Cardiologists with decades of experience to their credit. We have specialised, state-of-the-art facilities for this programme including a Level 3 PICU that’s managed by internationally trained paediatric intensivists. Waiting for a heart can be quite distressful, but if everything goes well, it’s definitely a second chance at life.

Once a donor heart becomes available and all other factors are ascertained favourable, our entire transplant team gets ready for the surgery. Our transplant surgeon will remove the diseased heart of the patient, except the back walls of the atria - the heart’s upper chambers. The backs of the atria of the donated heart are opened and sewn into place; and blood vessels are connected, allowing the blood to flow to the heart and lungs. As the heart warms up, it starts beating. You’ll be able to sit up and walk within a few days after the surgery, and if there are no signs of organ rejection, you can go home in probably about two weeks.

Post-surgery care is extremely crucial and you have to take up the responsibility of your own health and wellbeing. Make sure you take your medications on time. And remember that these medications must be taken for life. Exercise - we encourage heart transplant recipients to increase physical activity to improve the functions of the heart and avoid weight gain. However, you’ll need to take the advice of your Cardiologist and Rehabilitation Therapist before you start on your regime. We’ll give you specific instructions on what you should eat and what you should not. A low-fat, low-sodium diet will decrease the risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure and fluid retention. Remember, how you recover, how well you recover and how quickly you recover depend on many factors including your age, general health and your response to the transplant. Patients, especially children will need to be monitored all their life to ensure nothing is wrong. Fortunately, according to worldwide statistics, almost 85% heart transplant recipients get back to their normal life within a reasonable time. The most important of all are regular check-ups. Missing even one means you are neglecting your health. So visit your doctor at regular intervals, get your investigations done on time and lead a healthy lifestyle. It’s a second chance at life, make sure you live it well.

A medical subspeciality of Radiology that plays a vital role in both emergency and elective care, Interventional Radiology (IR) is the minimally invasive, image-guided treatment of certain diseases/ conditions that may otherwise require an open surgery. IR procedures are performed with the help of advanced imaging modalities like MRI, CT and ultrasound scans, in cath labs/ sterile operation theatre environments. The interventional radiologist can see the inside of the body and treat complex conditions ranging from brain aneurysms to cancers, through very small incisions (2-3mm in 90% cases), with unmatched precision and speed.

Avoids major surgeries in certain conditions/ diseases Mostly performed under local anaesthesia/sedation Tiny incision, minimal scarring Significantly lesser post-surgery pain Minimal blood loss Fewer post-surgical complications Faster recovery Shorter hospital stay/ same-day discharge for many procedures

Our spine is nature’s extraordinary miracle. Several complex structures come together to provide the human body with a fine balance of protection, support, strength and movement. A healthy spine is not just the bony segments but a combination of several ‘supporting structures’ - protective discs, strong muscles and attached ligaments and tendons. The 24 bony segments or vertebral bodies or vertebrae in the spine are interspersed with a tough, yet soft gel-like cushion or shock-absorber, called intervertebral disc. The muscles surrounding the spine or ‘para-spinal muscles’ are attached to the bones through ligaments. Together these structures, called the ‘natural tension band’ provide mobility, strength and protection to the back. The core of our spine’s movement, structure and flexibility comes from complex biomechanics of the bony vertebrae and supporting structures. Often compared to a ‘crane’, it is said that for the spine to be stable, all elements must be intact and function in unison.

A healthy back is a combination of healthy bones, mobile joints, and strong muscles. Unfortunately, a complex system like our back or spine is prone to issues arising from one or more malfunctioning elements. Any disturbance to the spine and it’s supporting structures due to aging, trauma, lifestyle stresses or other pathologies can lead to spinal complications, most commonly appearing as back or neck pain. Maintaining a healthy spine is almost non-negotiable to ensure a healthy, pain-free and active life. Simple activities such as maintaining healthy posture, regular exercise, good nutrition and regular exposure to the sun, go a long way in maintaining a healthy spine.