Heart and Lung Transplant
For people whose heart or lungs have been damaged beyond repair, a life-saving transplant may be their only hope.
How our programme can help you
If your heart has suffered so much damage that it cannot function any more or if your lungs are failing, robbing you of your breath, your doctor may discuss the option of a transplant with you before putting you on the waiting list. In very serious cases of
heart failure and without a suitable heart donor, it is possible that your heart will be supported by an external device as a “bridge to transplant” until a suitable donor becomes available.
Meanwhile the multidisciplinary team will work with you to ensure that you are in the best possible state of health. Being in peak condition will help you during the transplant operation and recovery.
Even after your transplant has been completed, your transplant team will continue to look after you. You’ll also have to take anti-rejection medications for the rest of your life to prevent your body from rejecting your new heart or lung.
Some people may not need an entire heart or lung transplant, but only parts, such as the heart valves that regulate blood flow, the main artery or airway. If you’re interested in more information on valve, blood vessel or windpipe transplants, go to our page on
cardiovascular homograft transplants.
Achievements
Since the Heart Transplant Programme was set up at National Heart Centre Singapore in 1990, the transplant team has carried out 49 heart transplants that have given recipients a new lease of life.
The Lung Transplant Programme set up in 2000, is a collaboration between National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore General Hospital and National Cancer Centre Singapore. The first lung transplant was done successfully on 19 November 2000 and as of June 2010, nine lung transplants have been done in Singapore. Worldwide only some 8,000 lung transplants have been performed to date.
National Heart Centre Singapore is the only centre in Singapore to provide a transplant service for heart and lung. The Heart & Lung Transplant Unit has also established several programmes to support patients with heart failure. One of them is the Mechanical Heart Device Programme, which was set up in 2001 to support patients with terminal heart failure for recovery or transplant. For more information on this programme, go to
National Heart Centre Singapore's cardiothoracic surgery page.
For more information on heart and lung homograft transplants
Contact
Ms Kerk Ka Lee or Ms Neo Chia Lee
Heart & Lung Transplant Office
National Heart Centre Singapore
Mistri Wing
17 Third Hospital Avenue
Singapore 168752