Your Child's Heart Transplant

Step 1 When a donor heart is ready, the transplant coordinator will call you at home to let you know about a potential organ donor. If no one is home, you will be called on your cell phone. Be sure to call us back as quickly as you can.

• You will be asked if your child has had any recent illnesses or currently has fever, diarrhea or vomiting.
• We will tell you when you and your child need to be at the hospital. You and your child must be able to leave your house within 30 minutes of our call, so make sure your car or truck is working well at all times.

Note: Do not give your child anything to eat or drink after we call your child in for the transplant.

Step 2 The transplant coordinator will tell you where to report. You will go either to admissions or to the Emergency Department to check-in.

Step 3 Your child will be admitted and staff will direct you to your child's room. He will then be prepared for surgery.

Step 4 The heart transplant team will do a medical review of your child in the next few hours that might include:

• A complete history and physical exam
• A review of your child's current medicines-please have a complete list of all medicines your child is taking
• A review of any health problems that your child has had lately such as a sore throat, cold, ear infection, rashes, cold sores or contact with people who have infections
• A chest X-ray
• Blood work (blood tests)

Note: If your child is sick or if an emergency occurs, your child's surgery may be canceled.

Step 5 The anesthesiologist will come to your child's room to discuss his allergies and types of anesthesia. An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who monitors your child during surgery.  Anesthesia is medicine that allows your child to be in a deep sleep so he cannot see, hear or feel anything, not even pain.

Step 6 The transplant surgeon will come and talk to you about your child's surgery. You will be asked to sign a consent for surgery after the transplant surgeon has explained the operation and its possible risks.

Step 7 The transplant surgery will take place.

• The surgery may take from four to six hours. If your child has had previous heart surgeries, the operation may take longer.
• During surgery, there is a room for you and your family to wait.
• The transplant coordinator, an operating room (OR) nurse or a child life specialist will give you updates about your child.
• The surgeon will talk to you after your child's surgery.
• If you need to leave the hospital, please tell your coordinator. Be sure to leave a number where you can be reached.

Step 8 Right after your child's surgery, he/she will go to the Ricky Hendrick Centers for Intensive Care - Cardiac Intensive Care Unit on the 6th floor

Step 9 After a few days, your child will be taken to the 8th Floor Progressive Care in LCH

Steps for Heart Transplant :The Transplant Surgery :Caring For Your Child After Transplant :When to Call : Back to Heart Transplant Home