For people with advanced heart failure, a heart transplant may be a lifesaving alternative when other treatments haven’t been successful. If you or a loved one has been referred to a cardiovascular surgeon to discuss a heart transplant, our Heart Transplant Program deliver the expertise and personalized care you want, with the compassionate care you need.
People who receive a heart transplant often have advanced heart failure, which is heart failure that hasn’t responded to lifestyle changes, medications or other forms of treatment. The condition has worsened to the point where symptoms are severe and occur even when the person is at rest, which can have a serious impact on their quality of life.
Heart transplants can also be a solution for people with:
A heart transplant can improve your quality of life. When the transplant is successful, you will no longer experience symptoms of heart failure. You’ll also have more energy and can often return to activities you had to stop due to your heart failure.
When you have a heart transplant, your heart will be replaced with a donor heart.
You will be matched to a donor heart based on your body size and blood type. Finding a donor heart can be a lengthy process, and you may need additional treatments while you wait.
You will meet with a cardiologist and a cardiovascular surgeon to discuss possible treatments. Your team may recommend a ventricular assist device (VAD). Sometimes called a “bridge to transplant” therapy, a VAD helps your heart function while you wait for a donor heart to become available.
Based on your diagnosis and other factors, your team may recommend other medications or treatments to prolong the life of your existing heart and help it work as well as possible.
Before the search for a donor heart begins, you will have screening tests to determine the best treatment path for you. Not everyone is a suitable candidate for heart transplants, and these tests offer the information your team needs to determine whether you qualify for a heart transplant or another treatment.
If you and your team decide to proceed with an organ transplant, you will have additional blood tests, imaging, and tissue and blood typing to find a donor match.
You will then be placed on a waiting list at the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which manages the nation’s organ transplant system. Your place on the list depends on certain factors, including the type and severity of your heart disease.
Once a matching donor heart becomes available, you will be scheduled for surgery immediately. After a heart is removed from a donor, it must be preserved for transport and implanted within four to five hours.
You will have a team of support staff and medical specialists throughout the transplant process. In addition to cardiovascular surgeons and cardiologists with expertise in heart failure and heart transplants, you may work with:
At Baylor Scott & White, we provide the highest level of care with convenient options. With heart transplant locations in North and Central Texas and a wide network of hospitals and clinics, we offer comprehensive services, including emotional and faith support, follow-up care, and rehabilitation close to home.
Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, is a leading destination for heart transplants in Dallas. The Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease offers advanced care for complex heart conditions, including heart transplantation, advanced heart failure management and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). You'll have access to education on medication, lifestyle changes and nutrition alongside cardiac rehabilitation at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital. Celebrating over 1,000 heart transplants since 1986, Baylor University Medical Center remains dedicated to transforming lives with the support of families, care teams and donors.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple offers the only heart transplant program between Dallas and Austin, with wait times significantly lower than the national average. The multidisciplinary team of specialists provides advanced care for heart failure and transplant patients. Since 2010, our program has integrated patient management protocols across the Baylor Scott & White system. Our expert team includes cardiologists, surgeons, coordinators and support staff, providing 24/7 care and access.
Becoming an organ donor can save lives—potentially more than one. With over 120,000 people on organ transplant waiting lists in the U.S., the need for donors is urgent.
