Risks & Complications

It is important to monitor your progress carefully after the transplant through routine blood and diagnostic tests. You need to know how to look for signs of complications from a heart transplant surgery.

The most common complications of heart transplantation include infection and rejection of the new heart. You will be given additional information and instructions about possible complications that may occur after your transplant.

As part of the body's normal response, your immune system will try to fight, or reject, your new heart. Therefore, you will be given immunosuppressant drugs immediately after surgery. These drugs help to keep your immune system from fighting the new heart. You will take these drugs for the rest of your life.

If rejection of the new heart does occur, it is important to treat it early. There are several symptoms that may be warning signs that your body is trying to reject your new heart. You must tell your doctor, nurse, transplant coordinator or transplant physician immediately if you have any symptoms of rejection. Symptoms of rejection include fatigue, fever, shortness of breath, weight gain of more than two pounds in one day, lower than usual blood pressure and swelling in your legs or hands. You may need to undergo a heart biopsy to determine if rejection is occurring.

Another possible complication after the heart transplant is infection. The risk of infection is highest soon after surgery. It is important for you to cough and perform deep breathing exercises to prevent respiratory complications. It will also be important to clean any superficial wounds carefully with soap and water to reduce the chances of an infection. If you notice any signs of infection, tell a member of your transplant team immediately. Signs of infection include redness at the incision site, pain, drainage from the incision, swelling and fever.

Your transplant coordinator will discuss with you symptoms of the other common complications that can occur following heart transplantation.