Advanced heart transplant care is available when it's urgently needed at Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple. The treatment of heart failure is complex and may involve the implantation of devices or, when all other treatments are no longer effective, a heart transplant. This surgical procedure replaces a sick or defective heart with a healthy one from a donor. Transplant services are only considered for patients with severe heart failure who meet the criteria for a heart transplant and who have healthy organs.
Symptoms of heart failure may include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling of the ankles, legs, feet, abdomen, or neck veins; fainting during physical activity; chest pain, especially after physical exertion or heavy meals; or heart murmurs, extra or unusual sounds heard during a heartbeat. The Heart Failure Center at the Methodist Heart Institute offers medical and surgical interventions for hearts that are failing. Congenital heart disease, also called congenital heart defect, refers to an abnormality in the structure of the heart that occurs while the fetus is developing in the womb. Congenital heart defect can affect approximately one in 100 children and may be due to generic or chromosomal abnormalities, the mother's use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco during pregnancy, a maternal viral infection, or a family history of congenital heart disease.
A heart transplant can help patients with heart failure, a condition that means that the heart is no longer pumping enough to meet the body's demands. The highly experienced team at Texas Children's Hospital has transplanted hearts into children from newborns to young adults from all over the United States. The diseased heart is removed and the donor's heart is reconnected to the main blood vessels and surrounding tissues. Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is the most common form of heart disease in the U.
S. If the transplant candidate's condition begins to worsen, intravenous medications, the implantation of a total artificial heart, or a ventricular assist device may be recommended until a donor heart is available. Cooley and his team performed the first successful heart transplant in the United States and subsequently implanted the first artificial heart at Baylor St. The heart transplant program at Texas Children's Hospital is one of the largest pediatric heart transplant programs in the country. According to the A to D staging system of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, about 10 percent of the more than 6 million Americans living with heart failure have advanced heart failure (stage D).
Cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle enlarges, thickens, or stiffens (and therefore weakens), which can cause dangerous arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) or even lead to heart failure.When it comes to finding quality care for those suffering from advanced stages of heart failure, Texas has some of the best hospitals in the country offering specialized treatments such as heart transplants. From Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple to Texas Children's Hospital and Methodist Heart Institute, these hospitals provide comprehensive care for those needing a new lease on life through a heart transplant. Patients can rest assured knowing that they are receiving top-notch care from some of the most experienced teams in the nation. The process for receiving a heart transplant, however, is not an easy one. Patients must meet certain criteria before being considered for a transplant.
This includes having severe heart failure, healthy organs and being free from any other medical conditions that could interfere with recovery. Additionally, patients must be willing to commit to lifelong follow-up care after their surgery. For those suffering from advanced stages of heart failure, finding quality care can be difficult. Fortunately, Texas has some of the best hospitals in the country offering specialized treatments such as heart transplants. Patients can rest assured knowing that they are receiving top-notch care from some of the most experienced teams in the nation.
