What is the life expectancy of an infant with a heart transplant?

“Most infant heart transplants have median survival of only 20 to 22 years,” said Joshua D. Sparks, M.D., heart failure and transplant medical director at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the University of Louisville, and pediatric cardiologist with UofL Physicians.

What is the survival rate of pediatric heart transplant?

More than half (54.3% or 183/337) of the pediatric transplant patients in the study group survived at least 15 years past surgery. The researchers found that of those 15-year survivors, 82.5% (151) were currently alive and showed good heart function at most recent follow-up.

How many heart transplants does a baby have a year?

Of these, 2171 (25%) have been performed in infants. The number of infant heart transplants reported per year has remained relatively stable over the last decade at approximately 100 procedures per year.

How many infants are on the heart transplant list?

Today, there are seldom more than three or four newborns on the waiting list at any given time in the Unites States. The average wait-time is 110 days. Wait-list mortality for newborns is 34%. Currently, only about 8–12 newborn transplants are performed in the United States each year (11).

Are infant heart transplants successful?

Some patients may not qualify for a re-transplant due to medical or social reasons. The overall survival for orthotopic cardiac transplantation is currently around 90 percent at one year and 80 percent at five years. About 50% of transplant recipients survive more than 15 years.

Can you have multiple heart transplants?

“Actually, it is not unusual for someone who receives a heart transplant at a relatively young age to need a second transplant,” said Mark J. Zucker, MD, JD, Director of the Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant Program.

How much is a heart transplant for a baby?

Results: The mean cost of initial hospitalization and organ procurement was $221,897 per patient for primary transplant and $285,296 per patient for re-transplant.

Can a child live a normal life after a heart transplant?

Many kids who have heart transplants go on to live normal, healthy lives after they recover from surgery. They will take medicines for the rest of their lives to prevent the body from rejecting the heart.

Can you get multiple heart transplants?

Is there enough heart transplants for babies?

But it is a reality, as there are not nearly enough organs — especially infant hearts, for that matter — to go around. And the process can be a psychological hurdle for waiting parents. Pediatric transplant candidates must be compatible with a donor’s blood type and receive hearts that match their body size.

How many children die waiting for a heart transplant?

In 2006, the year Mitchell was waiting for his transplant, 58 children under the age of 18 died while waiting for a new heart, according to UNOS data provided to The Huffington Post. In 2012, 41 children died waiting.

How many pediatric heart transplants are performed each year?

Over 400 heart transplants are performed in pediatric patients each year, according to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Wait-list time for transplantation varies depending on their size, blood type and waiting status.

What is the purpose of heart transplantation in children?

Heart Transplants in Children. The goal of heart transplantation is to return the patient to a state of functionality with the least amount of limitations and to optimize quality of life. In adults, ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is the most common reason for heart transplantation.