For patients with heart failure that has not responded to
other treatments, Duke’s transplant team provides an extensive
evaluation to determine if transplant is the best treatment
option.
Heart transplantation is considered for individuals only
after all other available treatments have been tried, and
optimized, and the therapies have failed to prevent further
deterioration.
Improvement in technique and outcome have greatly expanded
the criteria for heart transplant recipients so that patients
into their mid-70s may be considered for transplant.
The evaluation determines the severity of the patient’s
heart disease and the health of his or her other body
systems.
Duke’s heart transplant team consists of:
- Transplant cardiologists
- Transplant surgeons
- Anesthesiologists
- Pathologists
- Nurse coordinators
- Financial coordinators
- Psychologists
- Social workers
Other disciplines that provide support include pharmacy,
infectious disease, nutrition, physical therapy, and
psychiatry.
Waiting Times
The median waiting time for cardiac transplantation at Duke is two months, but an individual's waiting time will depend on multiple factors including blood type, body size, and the severity of the illness.
Duke performs between 40 and 50 transplants each year. More
heart transplants would be performed if there were a greater
availability of organs.
Once accepted into the program, the potential recipient’s
name is entered into a national waiting list. Patients should
expect to wait an average of six months from the time of
listing.
The
heart transplant patient guide booklet is issued to
patients or patient families once they are admitted to the
Heart Transplant Center at Duke.
The booklet will give you some information about heart
function, the transplant process, and the course of recovery.
However, it is not designed to answer every question, and you
are encouraged to ask your physician or transplant coordinator
any additional questions you might have.
Transplant Coordinators
-
Lamb, Shannon
- Persing, Brad
- Sykes, Amber
- Williams, Melissa
Transplant Social Worker
Kate Artin, MSW, LCSW
Physicians
Physicians offering this service include:
Locations
This service is available at:
