immune disorders
Heart Transplantation
Procedure for Heart Transplantation
Both Donors and recipients undergo Through an incision in the chest, most of the damaged heart is removed, but the back wall of one of the upper heart chambers (atria) is left. The donated heart is then attached to what remains of the recipient’s heart. Heart transplantation takes about 3 to 5 hours. The hospital stay after this operation is usually 7 to 14 days. Drugs to inhibit the immune system ( Suppression of the Immune System ), including corticosteroids, are started the day of transplantation. These drugs can help reduce the risk that the recipient will reject the transplanted heart. 