Heart Surgery/transplant

[GKP1984_GKP]

Has anyone had Fontan surgery? Or has anyone had or waiting for a heart transplant?

[Dolphin14]

My husband had a heart transplant 22 years ago this month.

[GKP1984_GKP in reply to Dolphin14]

How old was he when he had it? I was told that transplants can last 10-15 years?

[Dolphin14 in reply to GKP1984_GKP]

32

[Dolphin14 in reply to Dolphin14]

Don't believe what you read

When he was transplanted they told us two years then ten if he was lucky.

Things have changed so much since then too.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! From your post I am slightly unclear as whether you are posting for yourself or on behalf of a child. The Fontan procedure is part of a series of procedures to treat HLHS (hypoplastic left heart syndrome) in mainly young children. Over the years the heart can tire and transplant may be considered. When I was at Harefield some of their Hamsters were about. These are people who have had a transplant there - some over 35 years ago!

Would you be happy to post more background as it may help others to reply/comment.

[GKP1984_GKP in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you for your reply.

The question was for me, I’m now 34. I had fontan at the age of 6.

They want to perform another fontan procedure but it’s tricky and no one seems to want to do it. Heart transplant has also been discussed.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to GKP1984_GKP]

If you follow this Hamsters' link and look at the September 2018 newsletter you will see (p8) people with 30 and 35 post-transplant pins - plus those who had more recent transplants.

harefieldhamsters.org/about...

Do be wary of Dr Google - far too much out of date and incorrect rubbish out there.