Overview of Heart and Lung Transplant
A heart transplant is a surgical procedure that replaces a patient’s diseased heart with a healthy donor heart. It is primarily recommended for patients with severe heart failure or other life-threatening cardiac conditions when all other treatment options have been exhausted. The transplanted heart takes over the critical function of pumping blood throughout the body, improving circulation, energy levels, and overall quality of life. Because the heart is central to the body’s function, the surgery requires precise surgical skill and careful coordination before, during, and after the procedure to ensure the patient’s safety and long-term success.
Lung transplant surgery involves replacing one or both damaged lungs with healthy donor lungs to restore respiratory function. It is often necessary for patients with progressive lung diseases that cause irreversible damage, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis. Since the lungs are responsible for oxygenating blood and removing carbon dioxide, their failure results in severe breathlessness and reduced oxygen supply to the body’s tissues. A successful lung transplant can significantly improve breathing, physical capacity, and life expectancy. Due to the lungs’ delicate structure and complex blood supply, lung transplant surgery requires specialized expertise and thorough post-operative care.
What is Heart Transplant Surgery?
Heart transplant surgery is a life-saving procedure performed on patients whose hearts have failed to pump blood effectively due to severe disease or damage. The surgery involves removing the patient’s diseased heart and replacing it with a healthy heart from a compatible donor. Because the heart is responsible for maintaining blood circulation throughout the body, a failing heart can lead to serious complications, including fatigue, fluid buildup, and organ dysfunction. Heart transplant surgery offers a new chance at normal heart function and significantly improves survival for patients with end-stage heart failure.
What is Lung Transplant Surgery?
Lung transplant surgery involves replacing one or both diseased lungs with healthy lungs from a donor. This procedure is typically recommended for patients with advanced lung diseases where the lungs can no longer effectively exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, leading to severe breathing difficulties and reduced quality of life. A lung transplant can significantly improve lung function, oxygen levels, and overall well-being, offering hope to patients who have exhausted other treatment options.
Heart Failure Conditions Managed Through Heart Transplant
Heart transplant surgery is a critical treatment option for patients experiencing severe heart failure caused by various underlying conditions. These conditions impair the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, leading to debilitating symptoms and life-threatening complications.
This condition causes the heart chambers to enlarge and weaken, reducing the heart’s pumping efficiency. As the heart muscle thins and stretches, it struggles to supply enough blood to the body, resulting in fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs and abdomen.
Restrictive or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy makes the heart muscle stiff and less flexible, while hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes abnormal thickening of the heart muscle. Both conditions limit the heart’s ability to fill properly with blood, which can cause heart rhythm disturbances and symptoms of heart failure.
Severe Coronary Artery Disease (Ischemic Heart Disease)
This condition results from blocked or narrowed coronary arteries that reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. Repeated heart attacks or chronic lack of oxygen can cause irreversible damage, weakening the heart to the point that transplantation becomes necessary.
Valvular Heart Disease in Advanced Stages
When heart valves are severely damaged due to infection, degeneration, or congenital defects, they may fail to open or close properly. This impairs blood flow within the heart and can lead to heart failure requiring transplant surgery if valve repair or replacement is not viable.
Congenital Heart Defects Leading to Heart Failure
Some patients are born with structural heart abnormalities that progressively worsen over time, causing the heart to fail. For these patients, especially adults with complex congenital defects, a heart transplant may be the only effective treatment to restore cardiac function.
Lung Failure Conditions Managed Through Lung Transplant
Lung transplant surgery is often the last resort for patients suffering from advanced lung diseases that severely impair breathing and oxygen exchange. These conditions progressively damage lung tissue and function, leading to respiratory failure.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, conditions that cause airflow obstruction and difficulty breathing. Long-term exposure to irritants like smoking damages the airways and lung tissue, resulting in persistent cough, breathlessness, and reduced lung capacity.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
IPF causes scarring and thickening of lung tissue with no known cause. This fibrosis makes the lungs stiff and less able to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream, leading to chronic breathlessness and reduced exercise tolerance.
This condition involves abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, which strains the right side of the heart. Over time, it can cause heart failure and serious breathing difficulties.
Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Lung Disorders
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder causing thick, sticky mucus buildup in the lungs, leading to repeated infections and lung damage. Other genetic lung diseases can similarly cause progressive respiratory decline requiring transplantation.
Interstitial Lung Disease
A group of disorders characterised by inflammation and scarring of the lung interstitium (the tissue surrounding air sacs), interstitial lung disease reduces lung elasticity and oxygen exchange, leading to chronic respiratory failure.
Eligibility and Evaluation for Transplant
Determining a patient’s eligibility for heart, lung, or combined heart and lung transplant involves a thorough and multidisciplinary evaluation. This ensures that the patient is medically and psychologically prepared for the surgery and the lifelong commitments that follow.
Medical Criteria for Transplant Candidates
Patients must have advanced organ failure that is unresponsive to all other treatments. Candidates should be free from active infections, untreated cancers, or other serious medical conditions that could increase surgical risks or limit life expectancy.
Pre-Transplant Assessment and Diagnostic Tests
A comprehensive set of tests is performed to evaluate the patient’s overall health and organ function. This includes blood tests, imaging studies like echocardiograms or CT scans, pulmonary function tests, and assessments of kidney, liver, and other organ systems to ensure the patient can safely undergo surgery.
Psychological and Lifestyle Evaluation
Mental health screening and lifestyle assessment are crucial, as transplant success depends heavily on the patient’s ability to adhere to post-operative care and medication regimens. Evaluation also includes counselling to assess coping mechanisms, social support systems, and readiness for lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking.
Organ Matching and Donor Availability
Compatibility between donor and recipient is essential for transplant success. Blood type, tissue type, and size matching are carefully considered to reduce the risk of organ rejection. The patient is placed on a waiting list while the transplant team coordinates donor availability through organ donation networks.
Combined Heart and Lung Transplant: An Advanced Life-Saving Procedure
A combined heart and lung transplant involves replacing both organs simultaneously with healthy donor organs. It is one of the most complex and rare transplant procedures in modern medicine.
When Is It Needed?
This procedure is considered when both the heart and lungs are irreversibly damaged, and transplanting only one organ would not be effective. Common conditions include:
- Congenital heart disease with associated lung damage
- Severe pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure
- Genetic or metabolic disorders affecting both organs
How Is It Performed?
The diseased heart and lungs are removed together. A donor heart-lung block is implanted in a single surgical procedure. The operation requires precise surgical planning and coordination between cardiac and thoracic specialists.
Post-Surgical Care
Recovery includes intensive care monitoring, mechanical ventilation support, and careful adjustment of immunosuppressive medications. The risk of complications such as rejection or infection is higher, so early intervention and close follow-up are critical.
Benefits and Outcomes
For carefully selected patients, a combined transplant offers a significant improvement in survival and quality of life. It restores cardiovascular and respiratory function, allowing patients to resume daily activities over time.
What are the Different Transplant Procedures and Techniques?
Organ transplant surgeries involving the heart and lungs are among the most complex procedures in modern medicine. The technique used depends on the extent of organ damage, the patient’s overall condition, and donor organ availability. Each type of transplant, heart, lung, or combined, follows a specific protocol and requires a highly coordinated surgical and critical care approach.
Heart Transplant Surgery
A heart transplant involves removing the patient’s failing heart and replacing it with a healthy donor heart. This procedure is typically performed on patients with end-stage heart failure that does not respond to medications, lifestyle changes, or surgical interventions such as bypass surgery or valve replacement.
During the operation, the patient is placed on a heart-lung machine, which temporarily performs the function of the heart and lungs by circulating oxygenated blood throughout the body. The heart transplant surgeon carefully removes the diseased heart and connects the donor heart to the patient’s major blood vessels, ensuring proper alignment and function.
Once the new heart is beating effectively on its own, the patient is gradually weaned off the heart-lung machine. Post-operative care is crucial, as the body must adapt to the new organ, and the immune system must be managed to prevent rejection.
Lung Transplant Surgery
Lung transplant surgery is performed to replace one or both diseased lungs with healthy lungs from a donor. It is usually considered when patients suffer from chronic, irreversible lung conditions that severely restrict breathing, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or cystic fibrosis.
Depending on the extent of damage, the transplant may involve only one lung (single-lung transplant) or both lungs (double-lung transplant). During the procedure, the diseased lung is removed, and the donor lung is implanted, with careful reconnection of the bronchus (airway), pulmonary artery, and pulmonary veins.
This surgery demands high precision to prevent air leaks, bleeding, or clots. Following surgery, patients are closely monitored for signs of organ rejection, infections, and lung function, with respiratory support often required in the early recovery phase.
Heart–Lung Transplant Surgery
A heart–lung transplant is a combined surgical procedure in which both the heart and lungs are transplanted simultaneously. This is usually indicated in rare and complex conditions where both organs are severely damaged and dependent on each other for function, such as pulmonary hypertension leading to right heart failure or congenital heart defects that affect both cardiac and pulmonary systems.
During surgery, the patient’s heart and both lungs are removed as a single unit, and the donor heart-lung block is implanted and connected to the recipient’s blood vessels and airways. This requires perfect synchrony between the cardiac and thoracic surgical teams, as well as advanced intraoperative support.
The procedure is longer and more demanding than individual organ transplants, and recovery is closely monitored in an intensive care setting to manage potential complications.
Advanced Surgical and ICU Support
All transplant procedures are supported by advanced surgical technology and specialised intensive care. In the operating room, real-time imaging, cardiac anaesthesia, and perfusion techniques ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes.
After surgery, patients are moved to a transplant-intensive care unit (ICU), where their heart and lung functions are continuously monitored. Mechanical ventilation is often required during the initial recovery period, and medications are administered to prevent rejection and manage immune responses. The ICU team closely watches for any early signs of complications such as infection, fluid imbalances, or graft dysfunction.
The transition from ICU to recovery ward involves physical rehabilitation, nutritional support, and gradual return to activity, setting the foundation for long-term transplant success.
Post-Transplant Care and Recovery
Recovery after a heart, lung, or combined transplant requires a dedicated and structured plan to ensure the body adjusts well to the new organ. The first few weeks post-surgery are critical, but long-term success depends on ongoing medical care, lifestyle changes, and patient commitment. With proper post-transplant care, the patient can achieve significantly improved health and quality of life.
- Immunosuppressive Medication: These medications prevent the immune system from attacking the new organ. They must be taken for life and monitored regularly to adjust doses and prevent side effects or rejection.
- Frequent Medical Follow-ups: Regular check-ups allow the transplant team to monitor organ function and catch early signs of complications. These visits include blood tests, imaging, and sometimes biopsies.
- Infection Prevention: The immune system is weakened after a transplant, increasing the risk of infections. Patients are advised to practice good hygiene, avoid crowded places, and stay up-to-date on vaccinations.
- Physical Rehabilitation: Exercise helps rebuild strength and stamina after surgery. A personalised rehabilitation plan gradually improves cardiovascular and respiratory health and restores physical activity.
- Nutritional Support: A balanced diet supports healing and helps manage medication side effects. Low-sodium, heart-healthy, and anti-inflammatory diets are often recommended.
- Mental and Emotional Well-being: Emotional adjustment is part of the recovery journey. Counselling or support groups can help patients and families cope with stress, anxiety, or depression after a transplant.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is essential. Patients are also encouraged to manage weight, sleep well, and reduce stress to protect their new organ.
- Recognising Warning Signs: Patients and caregivers are educated to spot symptoms like fever, unusual fatigue, chest pain, or difficulty breathing—early signs of rejection or infection that need urgent care.
Why Choose Artemis Hospitals for Heart & Lung Transplant?
When it comes to heart and lung transplants, choosing the right hospital is crucial. This decision can significantly impact the patient’s survival, recovery experience, and long-term quality of life. India is home to several well-regarded transplant centres, including established names like KIMS Hospital in Hyderabad. However, Artemis Hospital stands out as a leading destination for comprehensive, high-success-rate transplant care in North India.
Located in Gurgaon, Artemis Hospital offers a patient-focused, multidisciplinary transplant program supported by advanced medical infrastructure and globally trained specialists. Each transplant case is evaluated with a personalised approach from diagnosis and donor matching to surgery and long-term care. Choose Artemis Hospitals for Heart & Lung Transplant in India for the following reasons:
Advanced Transplant Facilities & Technology
The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art cardiac and thoracic surgery suites, transplant ICUs, ECMO support, and high-end diagnostics—ensuring safe and efficient transplant outcomes.
Multidisciplinary Expert Team
A dedicated team of heart and lung transplant surgeons, cardiologists, pulmonologists, anaesthetists, transplant coordinators, and critical care experts collaborate at every step to deliver seamless care.
Artemis Hospital consistently reports high success and survival rates in heart, lung, and combined transplants, owing to meticulous planning, skilled surgery, and robust post-operative care.
Comprehensive Pre- and Post-Transplant Care
Patients receive end-to-end support—right from initial assessment and donor matching to physical rehabilitation, nutrition planning, psychological counselling, and lifelong follow-up.
Transparent and Ethical Practices
Adherence to national transplant regulations, ethical donor allocation, and clear communication with patients and families are core principles of the program.
Accessibility for Domestic & International Patients
Located close to Delhi International Airport, Artemis Hospital is well-connected and offers medical concierge services, making it convenient for patients from across India and abroad.
Book a Consultation for Heart & Lung Transplant in Gurgaon
Patients seeking expert evaluation and treatment for heart or lung failure can book a consultation at Artemis Hospitals in Gurgaon. Our team offers detailed assessments, personalised treatment plans, and ongoing support. Recognised as the best hospital for heart-lung transplant, Artemis Hospitals is committed to providing hope and healing through advanced transplant care. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the next step toward better health.
Reviewed byDr. Biswarup Purkayastha
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon
Artemis Hospitals
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a heart transplant and a lung transplant?
A heart transplant replaces a failing heart with a healthy donor heart, while a lung transplant involves replacing one or both damaged lungs. Both procedures are used for end-stage organ failure but address different diseases.
When is a heart transplant recommended?
Doctors recommend a heart transplant for patients with advanced heart failure who no longer respond to medications or other surgical treatments. Conditions like cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, or congenital defects may lead to transplant needs.
When is a lung transplant recommended?
A lung transplant is advised when severe, irreversible lung diseases like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or cystic fibrosis significantly impair breathing and quality of life, and other treatments are no longer effective.
What are the survival rates of heart and lung transplants?
Survival rates vary by patient and condition. On average, heart transplant recipients have a 1-year survival rate above 85%, and lung transplant recipients have around 80%. Long-term survival improves with proper follow-up and care.
How long does a heart or lung transplant surgery take?
Heart transplant surgery typically takes 4 to 6 hours, while lung transplant surgery may last 6 to 10 hours, depending on whether one or both lungs are replaced. Combined heart-lung transplants take longer.
How often do patients need follow-up checkups post-surgery?
Patients need frequent follow-ups initially—weekly or bi-weekly in the first few months—followed by monthly or quarterly visits. Regular monitoring helps detect rejection early and adjust medications as needed.
What are the most common complications after heart and lung transplant?
The most common complications include organ rejection, infections, blood clots, and side effects from immunosuppressive medications. Early detection and prompt treatment reduce long-term risks.
Is cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation required after transplant?
Yes, rehabilitation is essential. Pulmonary and cardiac rehab programs help patients regain strength, improve lung and heart function, and safely return to daily activities after transplant surgery.
Where can I find the best heart transplant hospital near me?
If you're looking for the best heart transplant hospital in Gurgaon, India, Artemis Hospitals offers expert cardiac transplant care, advanced technology, and a high success rate in heart transplants.
Which is the best hospital for lung transplant near me in Gurgaon?
Artemis Hospitals, Gurgaon, is considered one of the best hospitals for lung transplant in Gurgaon, India. It offers a dedicated lung transplant program backed by experienced specialists and modern facilities.
How do I book a consultation with a heart transplant specialist near me?
You can book a consultation with a heart transplant specialist near you at Artemis Hospitals by calling the hospital directly, visiting the website, or walking in for an appointment at the transplant department.
Which is the best hospital for lung transplant in India?
Artemis Hospitals is recognised among the best hospitals for lung transplant in India due to its skilled surgical team, transplant success rates, and post-operative care protocols. Contact us to schedule a consultation with some of the best heart and lung transplant surgeons in India.
What is the cost of a heart and lung transplant in India?
The cost of a heart and lung transplant in India typically depends on the hospital, the patient's condition, and the complexity. It includes surgery, ICU care, diagnostics, and medications.
Who are the experienced lung transplant surgeons near me?
Artemis Hospitals has some of the most experienced lung transplant surgeons in India who lead the program with advanced training in thoracic surgery, ensuring safe outcomes and patient-focused care.
Where can I get pre-transplant evaluation and tests near me for a heart and lung transplant?
Artemis Hospitals in Gurgaon offers complete pre-transplant evaluation and testing services in Gurgaon, including diagnostics, blood work, imaging, and psychological assessments under one roof.
