University of Virginia Health System

Heart Transplantation

Joining the Waiting List for a Heart Transplant

All patients requiring an organ transplant must be placed on the national waiting list that is managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a federally regulated, non-profit service. UNOS uses a complex set of factors to ensure that availability and distribution of organs is handled fairly and promotes the greatest benefit from a precious medical resource. All patients are also listed regionally with Lifenet, an organ donation and tissue banking organization that assists in obtaining and transporting organs. Available organs are allocated (that is, distributed to patients) according to a complex set of criteria. Organs go first to those patients with the greatest need. For heart transplant candidates, these are patients on continuous intravenous heart medications or artificial heart assist devices (VADs). If no patient fits these criteria the organ is then offered to patients through a matching process including body size and weight, blood type and consideration of other medical factors.

Waiting for an Organ

The average waiting time varies from approximately one to three years depending on the patient’s blood type and medical condition. Unfortunately, due to the organ shortage and the very long waiting times, not all patients that are listed can be transplanted. Some patients become so sick that they can no longer tolerate the stress of surgery and may be deactivated (removed) from the list. This is obviously a difficult decision for the patient and transplant team to make. Nationally (and at UVA) approximately 20-25% of patients who are listed will die while waiting for the transplant.

During the waiting period patients will be scheduled for appointments at UVA every one to four months to monitor heart failure symptoms and to otherwise seek the best health possible prior to transplant.

Waiting for a transplant can be emotionally difficult. UVa sponsors a monthly Heart and Lung Transplant Support Group on the fourth Thursday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meetings are open to patients, family members and friends  and provide ongoing access to professional services, friendly encouragement and advice from other waiting patients and recipients (and their families). They are led by the transplant social worker and provide a good opportunity to meet others who have undergone a transplant or are waiting. For information on the next meeting, contact the transplant office at (800) 257-0757.