In end-stage heart failure, when even the best medications and treatments no longer work, a heart transplant may become the only viable option forward. For patients and families navigating this decision in Gurgaon, finding the right team, the right facility, and expert guidance is extremely important.
A heart transplant is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or irreversibly damaged heart is removed and replaced with a healthy donor heart. The donor is someone who has been declared brain dead but whose heart continues to function normally.
This is considered the last and most decisive treatment available for end stage heart failure.
Heart failure is a condition where the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, despite all other treatments.
There are two main approaches:
The surgeon removes the failing heart entirely and places the donor heart in the same anatomical position. This is how the vast majority of heart transplants are done.
The donor heart is placed beside the patient’s own heart. Both hearts stay in the chest and work together. It is an uncommon approach, usually considered when the patient’s lung pressure is too high to safely remove the original heart.
It is not necessary that every heart condition require a transplant. When other medical interventions like bypass surgery, valve repair, pacemakers, or medication are no longer sufficient, heart transplant is considered as the effective option.
Common conditions that eventually require transplantation:
A transplant is recommended only after thorough evaluation confirms that no other treatment option is likely to help.
Before the Surgery
Once a patient is listed for transplant, the wait for a compatible donor begins. When a suitable heart is identified, the patient is called in immediately for final blood tests, imaging, and a pre-operative assessment.
In the Operating Theatre
The patient is put under general anaesthesia. During the surgery, the medical team carefully replaces the diseased heart with a healthy donor heart while maintaining the patient’s circulation and vital functions. Once the procedure is complete, the patient is shifted to the cardiac ICU for close observation and recovery. The procedure generally takes 4 to 6 hours. If the patient has had prior chest surgery, it may take longer.
Recovery takes time, and it is different for everyone. The timeline varies based on how sick the patient was before surgery, how well the new heart functions, and whether complications arise.
Monitoring in the ICU (First 1 to 2 weeks)
The patient stays in the ICU where the heart is monitored closely. The team watches for any early signs of complications and helps the patient begin moving again when ready.
Hospital ward (2 to 3 weeks)
Once stable, the patient moves to a regular ward for adjusting medications, looking after wounds, and rehabilitation.
At Home Recovery (1 to 3 months)
Physical activity is kept light. The patient visits the hospital regularly for check ups and tests to make sure the body is accepting the new heart.
Getting back to normal(3 to 6 months)
Most patients are able to return to their daily routine during this phase. It is a gradual process, but many people find they feel better than they did before surgery.
The CK Birla Hospital in Delhi is a NABH-accredited multi-speciality hospital with a dedicated cardiac surgery programme. Patients considering a heart transplant in Delhi will find the following at this facility:
The team works as a multidisciplinary unit including cardiac surgeons, heart failure cardiologists, transplant coordinators, anaesthesiologists, and intensivists to ensure that every step, from evaluation to long-term care, is managed consistently.
If you have any concern and need expert advice, book an appointment at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi now!
The CK Birla Hospital, Delhi has an experienced team of cardiac surgeons and transplant cardiologists who handle advanced heart failure and transplant cases.
Transplant is not suitable for patients with active infection or sepsis, irreversible organ failure (kidney, liver, or lung) unrelated to heart disease, active cancer or a recent malignancy, severe and fixed pulmonary hypertension, a history of significant non compliance with medical treatment, or major psychiatric illness that would prevent adherence to post-transplant care. These are general guidelines. The final decision rests with the transplant evaluation team.
The evaluation done before the heart transplant includes
Most patients spend 2 to 3 weeks in hospital after surgery, including the initial days in the ICU. Early recovery at home usually spans 1 to 3 months, during which activity is limited and follow up visits are frequent. Full recovery can take up to 12 months depending on individual health.
