Heart and Lung Transplant Programme at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai

Transplantation is a treatment option for end-stage heart or lung failure. In patients with end-stage heart failure who are considered too unstable to wait for a suitable organ donor, biventricular or left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) may be used for mechanical support.

Heart and Lung Failure Management

The team comprises Heart Failure Cardiologists, Electrophysiologists and Device Specialists, Mechanical Support Device Specialists, Transplant Anaesthetists, Transplant Intensivists, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons, Heart & Lung Transplant Surgeons, Transplant Physicians, Physiotherapists, Dietitians, Nurses, Social Workers and Counsellors, and Palliative Care Specialists.

The programme provides guideline directed medical therapy, coordinated care and continuity of care across the disciplines involved in managing heart failure patients.

Heart Failure and Heart Transplant

Medicines and, in certain cases, cardiac resynchronization therapy or implantable cardiac defibrillators are used in the treatment of heart failure. Patients with refractory end-stage heart failure may be considered for short-term or long-term Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) or heart transplantation.

Conditions for Which Heart Transplant May Be Considered

• Cardiomyopathy
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Hypertensive (High Blood-Pressure) Cardiomyopathy
• Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
• Myocarditis
• Systolic Heart Failure (HFrEF)
• Cardiac Amyloidosis
• Cardiac Tumor
• Chemotherapy-Related Cardiomyopathy
• Congenital Heart Disease in Adults
• Constrictive Pericarditis
• Diastolic Heart Failure (HFpEF)
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Familial Cardiomyopathy
• Heart Valve Disorders
• Hemochromatosis
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy
• Postpartum (After Giving Birth) Cardiomyopathy
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
• Sarcoidosis
• Ventricular Tachycardia

Heart Transplant

Heart transplantation is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or failing heart is replaced with a donor heart. It is typically performed when other treatments have not been adequate, such as in end-stage heart failure. After a transplant, patients require lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection.

Lung Failure and Lung Transplant

Damaged lungs make it difficult for the body to get the oxygen it needs. Conditions that can damage the lungs include COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and Covid infection.

Lung damage is treated with medications, BIPAP and home oxygen therapy. In patients with end-stage lung disease, lung transplant is a treatment option when the patient is not responding to other methods of treatment.

Conditions for Which Lung Transplant May Be Considered

• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
• Sarcoidosis
• Obliterative Bronchiolitis
• Suppurative Lung Disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Eosinophilic Granulomatosis
• Occupational Lung Disease
• Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
• Drug Toxicity
• Bronchiectasis
• Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
• Obstructive Lung Disease
• Emphysema
• Vascular Lung Disease
• Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
• Eisenmenger’s Pulmonary Hypertension
• Chronic Pulmonary Emboli

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

A Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is a mechanical pump used to support heart function in patients with severe heart failure. It helps the heart pump blood, either as a bridge to heart transplantation or as long-term therapy for patients who are not eligible for a transplant.

Key Procedures

• Heart Transplant
• Heart & Lung Transplant
• Lung Transplant
• LVAD
• Mechanical Circulatory Support for Acute Cardiogenic Shock and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ECMO & Centrimag)

FAQ’s

Q1. What is a heart transplant?

Heart transplantation is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or failing heart is replaced with a donor heart. It is typically performed when other treatments have not been adequate, such as in end-stage heart failure.

Q2. What medicines are needed after a transplant?

After a heart transplant, patients require lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection.

Q3. What is an LVAD?

A Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is a mechanical pump used to support heart function in patients with severe heart failure. It is used either as a bridge to heart transplantation or as long-term therapy for patients who are not eligible for a transplant.

Q4. What care is provided after a transplant?

Post-transplant care includes regular follow-up appointments, monitoring of heart and lung function, and management of immunosuppressive medications.

Q5. Which specialists are part of the transplant team?

The team includes transplant surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthetists, intensivists, interventional radiologists, infection control specialists, specialist transplant nurses, blood bank specialists, transplant coordinators, and OT and ICU nurses.