Your heart transplant journey may begin with many questions. The heart transplant team at Emory Healthcare will walk you through the entire process.
We will help you understand what to expect from the initial evaluation, the wait-list process, surgery and recovery.
Never in a million years will I be able to repay the donor family. But I have another chance at life. I got a precious gift from them.
- Rachel, registered nurse and heart transplant recipient
Some patients waiting for a heart transplant might need additional support from IV medications or devices to help support the heart and body. These may include a ventricular assist device (VAD) to assist the heart with pumping blood or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which works as both the heart and lungs and requires care in the ICU (intensive care unit).
Heart transplant surgery involves removing your diseased heart and replacing it with a new donor heart.
During a heart transplant, you are asleep and connected to a ventilator. A ventilator breathes for you during and after your surgery until you are strong enough to breathe on your own.
Your surgery team will also connect you to a heart-lung bypass machine. This machine functions as your heart and lungs during surgery.
A temporary pacemaker will help your new heartbeat after surgery. You may need this pacemaker for a few hours or a few days.
After surgery, our team will move you to the cardiovascular intensive care unit (ICU). You can expect to stay here for three to four days.
After your ICU stay, you’ll move to the cardiac surgery floor to recover and get stronger. You can expect to remain on this floor for another three to four days. Deep breathing and coughing will be important immediately after surgery and for several months. Your care team will show you how to do this properly to reduce pain.
While you recover in the hospital, you will meet a post-transplant coordinator. This transplant team member will teach you how to care for your new heart. They will also arrange follow-up care and appointments. You can reach your personal post-transplant coordinator at any time by sending them a message on the MyChart app or calling 855-366-7989 between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
After your heart transplant surgery, our goal is to get you discharged safely to your home. Depending on your progress and recovery, your physical therapist may recommend you spend time at an inpatient rehabilitation center to work more with physical and occupational therapists who will help you get stronger before going home.
Patients who live far away may also need to stay at the Mason House after being discharged from the hospital. The Mason House is a low-cost home away from home for you and your family. It’s close to Emory University Hospital, allowing our team to care for you quickly if needed.
Complications can occur after any surgery. The most common complications that may happen after heart transplant surgery are:
Medications After Transplant
To keep you and your new heart healthy, you will have to take many medications. These medications are essential to keep the newly transplanted heart functioning properly. You can expect to take these for the rest of your life. The heart transplant team will teach you and a family member about your medications. We will review the purpose, dosage and possible side effects of each with you. We will also help you coordinate medication pick-up or delivery.
Call your transplant coordinator if you experience any of these symptoms, as they may be signs of organ rejection or infection:
Emory Healthcare doctors provide specialized treatment and research the latest advancements.
View Emory Physician ProfilesTo expand your options, explore our network of providers throughout Atlanta and the surrounding counties.
Make an appointment online or call 404-778-7777 to schedule an appointment.
* View our call center hours
Please visit our privacy policy for more information.
