On the waiting list for a heart valve
Heart valves ensure that blood flows properly through the heart. Sometimes a heart valve does not work properly. In that case, a donor heart valve is needed and you may be placed on the waiting list.
How does a donor heart valve become available?
After death, a donor can donate heart valves. A special team then removes the entire heart and takes it to the tissue bank. Here the heart valves are removed, inspected, and stored. They are only available for transplantation after approval.
Who is waiting for a donor heart valve?
Patients on the waiting list for a heart valve often need a specific valve size. This is not always immediately available. This often concerns:
- Newborn babies with a heart defect.
- Patients with a severe defect or inflammation of the heart valve.
Allocation of a donor heart valve
When requesting a heart valve, factors considered include:
- Diagnosis.
- Type of surgery.
- Age of the patient.
Questions?
Do you have questions about the surgery, risks, and recovery? It is best to ask your treating physician.