Heart Transplant Services | Medical City Heart Hospital

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Heart transplant program in Dallas, Texas

At Medical City Heart Hospital, our heart transplant program is designed with specialized care that you can trust.

When experiencing advanced heart failure, we have complete cardiovascular care that includes medication, lifestyle change recommendations and surgical procedures. If heart transplantation becomes necessary, we care like family by providing a personalized healthcare plan. The advanced cardiac care team has performed more than more than 600 heart transplants and more than 300 heart assist devices.

Do I qualify for advanced therapies

The Institute for Advanced Cardiac Care team uses a multi-disciplinary approach to determining the most appropriate advanced therapy for each patient. Whether it’s a heart transplant or one of our heart assist devices, patients with advanced cardiac care needs can be assured they will receive an individualized treatment plan that they’re involved in every step of the way.

Advanced therapies such as heart transplant or a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may be your best treatment option after your team of specialists has exhausted all medication and other therapies. You may need a heart transplant or LVAD if you have one of the following conditions:

Ischemic cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis
Congenital (present at birth) heart disease
Postpartum cardiomyopathy
Valvular heart disease

For inpatient transfer requests, please call (866) TX-SHOCK. For an outpatient evaluation, please call (972) 940-9500 or fax patient transfer to (972) 940-9534.

Heart transplant

The first step of the process is to verify your insurance and ensure that we are an “in-network” facility for transplant. The heart transplant evaluation will consist of consultations with team members, testing, and lab work. During your initial appointment, you will meet the transplant team that will be involved in your care. The first day is a time to gather information about you and for you and your family to begin learning about the transplant process.

If your evaluation proceeds, then labs and further testing will be scheduled. You will have a chest X-ray, an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, and a right heart catheterization to determine the effect that heart failure has had on the blood vessels of your lungs. Further testing will sometimes be requested by our transplant cardiologist. You will also meet the transplant surgeon. The tests will determine your best treatment options.

Evaluation test results, once completed, will be presented to the transplant committee, which consists of the multidisciplinary team involved in your evaluation. The committee will determine if transplantation is the best treatment option.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains the national list and is directly involved with the local organ procurement agency and our transplant center. Wait times can vary based on medical urgency, blood type, body size and location of donor organ among others.

Heart assist device

Our ventricular assist device (VAD) program is patient-centered and equipped to handle the medical, social, psychological and financial needs of heart patients. Since the program’s inception in 1996, more than 300 VADs have been implanted.

Through heart failure classification improvement and a higher projected survival rate and quality of life, the program can offer patients a new beginning.

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

In advanced heart failure, the left ventricle can become too weak to provide adequate blood flow to organs. The LVAD is a surgically implanted pump supporting the work of the heart and redirecting blood to the body.

Pumps can be used in two ways: bridge or destination. In the bridge pathway, the LVAD is used to stabilize and literally bridge you to a future heart transplant. In the destination pathway, the LVAD is used as the sole support, as transplantation is deemed not an option due to age, medical comorbidities or psychosocial concerns.

A preferred strategy is chosen based on the health of the patient. Coordinators from the hospital are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week after discharge.

The LVAD is portable, battery-operated and used for months to years, allowing the freedom to enjoy improved quality of life. Patients are often allowed to return to work, travel, and exercise.

Current LVAD patients or providers caring for an LVAD patient may reach our 24/7 emergency hotline at (972) 440-9592.

Heart transplant and LVAD recovery

Immediately after surgery, the patient will recover in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. The recovery period varies from patient to patient. It is extremely important to stay motivated and continue to work hard with your healthcare team. The more often you are out of bed and moving, the less chance you have of developing pneumonia or other post-surgical complications.

Medications are available to help make you more comfortable with pain, however, it is not possible to completely eliminate pain. It is your responsibility to communicate your pain levels and tolerable expectations to your healthcare providers. It is more difficult to get pain under control once it is unbearable. If you are not in extreme pain, you’ll feel more like participating in your own care, have a shorter ICU stay, your body will heal faster, and you’ll go home sooner.

Once you are up and walking and are deemed stable enough by the cardiovascular team, you may be transferred to the progressive care unit (PCU). This unit is for less critical patients and is one step closer to home. Your physicians will follow you throughout your hospital stay.

Cardiac rehabilitation

Upon discharge, we will refer you to work with our experts in cardiac rehabilitation to support your recovery.

Establishing a support system

It is important during this life-changing process to identify a family member or friend to be available as your support system. We will educate you and your support person because better communication means better care. Your support team should be available to transport you to clinic appointments and schedule procedures that will be needed after discharge.

Medical City has performed more than 600 heart transplants and, if the need arises, we will provide compassionate care in an environment where excellence is elevated.

Cardiac arrest and heart failure patient survives, thrives after ECMO and life-saving transplant

While at a pool party with friends, 34-year-old Tim Clement collapsed in sudden cardiac arrest. He required ECMO, the most advanced form of life support, and was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood effectively. A heart transplant was the only option to save his life from a critical condition caused by a rare genetic mutation.