A heart transplant is the surgical replacement of a person's diseased heart with a healthy donor's heart. The donor is a person who has died and whose family has agreed to donate their loved one's organs. Since the performance of the first human heart transplant in 1967, heart transplantation has changed from an experimental operation to an established treatment for advanced heart disease. Like other organ transplantations, the number of heart transplantations in the U.S. is on the rise. In 2019, 3,552 were performed, up from 3,408 in 2018.

Who Is Considered a Candidate for a Heart Transplant? People who have advanced (end stage) heart failure, but are otherwise healthy, may be considered for a heart transplant. The following basic questions should be considered by you, your doctor, and your family to determine if heart transplantation is right for you: Have all other therapies been tried or excluded?

Are you likely to die in the near future without the transplant?

Are you in generally good health other than the heart or heart and lung disease?

Can you adhere to the lifestyle changes, including complex drug treatments and frequent exams, required after a transplant? If you answered "no"to any of the above questions, heart transplantation may not be for you. Also, if you have additional medical problems, such as other severe diseases, active infections, or severe obesity, you most likely will not be considered a candidate for transplant.