How long can a heart survive after being removed from a donor's body?

Discovery Health

After removal from a donor's body, a heart can survive just about four hours.

Here's a closer look at some of the statistics involving heart transplants:

The number of people added to the heart transplant list from July 2006 to June 2007: 3,011
The total number of people who were on the heart waiting list as of June 2007: 2,673
The number of transplants from deceased donors from July 2006 to June 2007: 2,224
The mortality rate for people while awaiting a heart: 15 percent

Continue Learning about Heart Transplant

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

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Columbia University Department of Surgery

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Heart Transplant

Diseased hearts can be replaced during a heart transplant, a measure taken to help save a persons life after other treatments have failed. If you have end-stage heart failure, which has severely weakened or damaged your heart, you most likely will need a heart transplant. However, because so few hearts are available, you must be sick enough to need a new heart but healthy enough to survive the surgery. In the U.S., only about 2,000 hearts are available each year, while there are 3,000 people waiting for a new heart. While you wait for a new heart, your doctor may insert a ventricular assist device (VAD) to help your heart continue to function. Once you have the transplant, you will need to take medications to suppress your immune system, so it doesnt attack your new heart. A team of doctors will monitor if your body accepts the new heart. The team will also look out for any infections that you may develop because of a suppressed immune system.

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