Heart Transplant

A heart transplant is a surgery that replaces a severely weakened or diseased heart with a healthy donor heart. It may be recommended for people with advanced heart failure when other treatments are no longer effective.

A heart transplant can help improve your quality of life by reducing symptoms like extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and limited physical activity. Many transplant recipients are able to return to activities they enjoy and experience improved heart function for years to come.

Your Heart Transplant Team

Advanced heart failure affects every part of your life. That's why we take a multidisciplinary approach that supports your physical, emotional, social and financial well-being.

From your first evaluation through recovery and lifelong monitoring, you'll be guided by an experienced team working together on your behalf.

• Cardiac surgeons: Expert heart transplant surgeons perform transplant procedures and oversee surgical care
• Advanced heart failure cardiologists: Evaluate your condition, manage treatment and determine whether transplant is the right option
• Heart transplant and LVAD RN coordinators: Available 24/7 to answer questions, coordinate care and guide you through each stage of the process
• Advanced practice providers: Provide ongoing care, education and follow-up support
• Cardiac rehabilitation specialists: Help you safely regain strength, endurance and confidence after transplant
• Dietitians: Develop nutrition plans that support healing and long-term heart health.
• Pharmacists: Educate you about transplant medications and help manage complex medication regimens
• Social workers: Provide emotional support and connect you with valuable resources
• Financial coordinators: Help you understand insurance coverage and financial considerations throughout the transplant process

Comprehensive Heart Care

Through OSF Cardiovascular Institute, you'll have access to comprehensive heart care, including advanced heart failure treatment, transplant evaluation, post-transplant monitoring, testing and cardiac rehabilitation. For those who are not transplant candidates or are unable to wait on the transplant list due to acuity or other reasons, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy may be another advanced treatment option. Because heart disease can affect multiple organs, you may also benefit from the OSF HealthCare kidney transplant program.

Considering a heart transplant?

If you have advanced heart failure, your physician can refer you to the advanced heart failure cardiologists at OSF Cardiovascular Institute for an evaluation.

Our specialists will review your condition, optimize your current treatment and discuss whether heart transplantation or another advanced therapy may be appropriate.

People with Stage D heart failure may be potential transplant candidates. Because donor hearts are a limited resource, careful evaluation helps ensure that transplantation is offered to people most likely to benefit from the procedure.

Testing and Education

You will complete a series of consultations and medical tests to determine your candidacy for transplant surgery. You'll also receive transplant education along with psychosocial and financial counseling to help you prepare for the journey ahead.

Selection Committee

Every transplant candidate is carefully reviewed by a multidisciplinary committee before being added to the transplant waiting list.

The committee may include:

• Transplant surgeon
• Advanced heart failure cardiologist
• Transplant coordinator
• Pharmacist
• Financial coordinator
• Social worker
• Dietitian
• Physical therapy/occupational therapy
• Palliative care specialist
• Other specialists as needed

This collaborative approach ensures every aspect of your care is considered.

Waitlist

If you're approved for transplantation, you'll be added to the national transplant waiting list and assigned a medical urgency status based on your condition.

Throughout your time on the waitlist, your care team will continue monitoring your health, adjusting treatment plans and exploring advanced therapies that can help support you and your family while you wait. For some people, an LVAD may help stabilize heart function and improve quality of life while awaiting a donor heart.

Your transplant coordinator will discuss your status level and keep you informed throughout the process.

Preparing for the Call

Waiting for a donor heart can be challenging. Because the timing is unpredictable, it's important to stay prepared.

Your transplant team will help you understand what to expect, how to stay ready for surgery and what steps to take if a donor heart becomes available.

Getting the Call

When a donor heart becomes available, you'll be contacted immediately and asked to come to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Once you arrive, the transplant team will perform a final evaluation to ensure transplant surgery remains the safest and most appropriate option for you.