heart transplant

[dondons]

how long does a heart transplant 'last'. Hip replacements last about 10 years.But is there such a time limit if you have a heart transplant?

[sft42]

Of people who survive their first year after a heart transplant, the average life expectancy is 11.5 years. Over 90% of people who survive for 4 years after a heart transplant have no limitations on their activity, and 40% return to work....The U.S. record for surviving a heart transplant is 23 years and counting, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which tracks all organ transplants in that country.

[tracymort]

i read recently that many transplant patients actually end up dying around 20 years later from skin cancer. the immune supressing drugs given to stop rejection are blamed.

[bluedolphin]

When you get a transplant you have to take anti rejection tablets for the rest of your life. These have to be taken at the same time everyday for the rest of your life, and can cause side effects. The tablets are very hard on your liver, and you are left very suceptible to infections, also you are at a high risk of developing skin cancer and are warned not to sit out in the sun..to cover up especially the legs. It is definitely not a quick into the hospital get it done and out again and forget about it for the rest of your life. But the good news is that the drugs are getting better and better all the time.