About Heart Transplant

The Heart Transplant Programme at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) provides comprehensive care for patients with advanced heart disease who require a heart transplant. Established in 1990, NHCS is currently the only healthcare institution in Singapore that performs heart transplantations.

To date, over 100 heart transplants have been successfully carried out, offering patients a renewed quality of life. Our programme offers both pre‑ and post‑transplant care, supported by a multidisciplinary team including transplant cardiologists, surgeons, coordinators, nurses, and allied health professionals.

Function of Heart

The heart is a vital organ responsible for:

Pumping oxygen‑rich blood to the body
Delivering nutrients to organs and tissues
Removing waste products such as carbon dioxide
Maintaining blood pressure and circulation

When the heart can no longer pump effectively, vital organs may not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, leading to severe health complications.

Understanding When a Transplant is Needed

A heart transplant may be recommended for patients with end‑stage heart disease when their condition cannot be managed with medication or conventional surgical treatments.

Patients who may require a heart transplant typically experience:

Severe and irreversible heart failure
Poor quality of life despite optimal medical therapy
High risk of death without transplantation

Heart transplantation is considered only after all other treatment options have been exhausted.

How to Get a Transplant

Patient Evaluation

Patients undergo a thorough evaluation including blood tests and imaging to assess heart, lung, liver and kidney function. They will also meet members of the transplant team to determine the suitability.

Waiting for a Donor Heart

Once approved, patients are placed on a waiting list until a suitable donor heart becomes available. Waiting time can range from months to years.

Transplant Surgery

The diseased heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart from a brain-dead donor. During surgery, the patient is placed on a heart-lung machine while the new heart is stitched into place.

Post Surgery Recovery

Most patients are able to sit up and move around within a few days. If recovery is smooth and there are no signs of rejection, patient may be discharged within two weeks.

Long Term Care

Patients must take lifelong medications, including immunosuppressants, and attend regualar follow-up appointments to monitor heart function.

Conditions We Treat

We care for patients with:

End‑stage heart failure
Severe coronary artery disease
Advanced cardiomyopathy
Heart disease unresponsive to medical or surgical treatment

Patients with other severe medical conditions or active infections may not be suitable candidates for transplantation.

Our services include:

Some patients may require Mechanical Circulatory Support before a suitable donor heart becomes available.
Bridge‑to‑Transplant (BTT)
A mechanical heart device is used to support the heart’s pumping function temporarily. This helps maintain blood circulation while the patient waits for a transplant.

This approach improves survival and stability for patients awaiting transplantation.