How Long Does a Transplanted Heart Last?

Heart transplant surgeon Raymond Lee, MD, explains what patients can expect after a heart transplant — including how long the heart will last.

The average lifespan of a transplanted heart is around 10 years, though outcomes vary from patient to patient.

“There’s a multitude of reasons why some patients’ hearts last longer, while others don’t,” says Raymond Lee, MD, director of the USC Heart Transplant Program, part of the USC Transplant Institute at Keck Medicine of USC.

Here, Dr. Lee explains what transplant patients can expect after heart transplant surgery, what factors make a difference and how they can make the most of life with their new heart.

What to expect after heart transplant surgery

Within the first three months after heart transplant surgery, patients can expect frequent follow-up visits.

“I would say that careful monitoring in the first three months is critical, just to make sure that patients are not showing any signs of rejection,” Dr. Lee says. “We also make sure they’re doing well with their medications, their lab results are holding steady and the surgery recovery and immunosuppressant steroids aren’t taking too much of a toll on their emotional well-being.”

Careful monitoring in these early months is so crucial that the USC Transplant Institute typically will have non-local patients stay in Southern California during this time.

Mitigating risk, ensuring long-term health

Dr. Lee says that patients can take steps to reduce complication risk and support long-term heart health, including:

• Managing comorbidities, like diabetes or high blood pressure
• Taking all medications as prescribed
• Attending follow-up appointments with specialists
• Maintaining a doctor-recommended, heart-healthy lifestyle

It takes a village

“The great thing about heart transplantation care is that it is multifaceted,” Dr. Lee says.

There are several different types of specialists that a recipient will see over the course of their journey. In particular, social workers and physical therapists can make a huge difference in a patient’s preparation for surgery and their recovery.

“Social workers can take a look at patients before surgery to assess mental health readiness for the road ahead or whether the patient has social support,” Dr. Lee says. “After the transplant, they can continue to help with things like medication adherence or mood fluctuations from the steroids.”

As for physical therapists, they can help the transplant surgeon get a sense of where a patient is physically as they prepare for a major procedure. Physical therapists specializing in heart transplantation can also help tremendously with rehabilitation.

It takes more than medical professionals to help with recovery. Family and friends can play a large role in post-surgical at-home care, emotional support and even helping patients adhere to sometimes arduous medication schedules.

Looking ahead to a life after transplant

Dr. Lee says that many of his patients go on to be fully active, and some even become athletic.

“We’ve performed transplants on people of all ages,” Dr. Lee says. “I’ve seen some of them go on to run 5Ks and marathons. Many that come to us from the Pacific Islands are surfers. With the right aftercare, lifestyle choices and medication adherence, many heart transplant patients can go on to live active, fulfilling lives.”

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