the heart transplant, a surgical procedure in which the presenter Fausto Silva (Faustão) was submitted yesterday (27), it has been made in Brazil since 1968.
The completion of the communicator surgery caused repercussions on the internet. One of the main questions refers to how the waiting list for surgery by the Unified Health System (SUS).
In Brazil, all patients who need a heart transplant must be enrolled in the National Transplant System (SNT), coordinated by the Ministry of Health. According to the folder, in the first half of 2023 alone, 206 heart transplants were performed in the country, an increase of 16% compared to the previous year.
Brasil Escola talked to specialists who explained how heart transplants are performed and the waiting list for the procedure.
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What is heart transplant?
Heart transplantation consists of a complex surgical procedure in which a heart with some dysfunction or disease is removed and the replacement with another healthy heart, as Biology teacher Nicole Sozza explains in this article.
In order to perform a heart transplant, a heart must be donated. This organ must be compatible with the body of the person who needs the transplant.
Heart transplant compatibility criteria
The transplant manager of the State Department of Health of Goiás (SES-GO), Katiuscia Christiane Freitas, cites the Compatibility criteria for heart transplantation:
Blood compatibility;
Genetic compatibility;
Queue registration time;
Weight;
Height;
Gravity.
Katiuscia explains that all these criteria are taken into account so that the system selects compatibility between donor and recipient.
Know more:the cardiovascular system
Presenter Faustão's heart transplant
Presenter Faustão's heart transplant raised debate regarding the process of carrying out the procedure via SUS. Katiuscia Christiane Freitas, transplant manager at the State Department of Health of Goiás (SES-GO) explains the situation:
How is a heart transplant done?
O heart transplant begins with the application of general anesthesia to the receiving patient, who remains unconscious throughout the procedure, explains Professor Nicole Sozza.
An incision is made in the chest to access the heart, with which the blood vessels are disconnected and the organ is removed from the body. Throughout the entire process, the patient is kept connected to a machine that performs the role of pumping blood.
The donor's heart is placed in the body and blood case connections are made. According to Nicole, this is how circulation is restored, the medical team closes the incision and sends the recipient for postoperative monitoring.
A organ rejection by the body who receives it is one of the main risk factors after heart transplant surgery. This process can be stimulated by an action of the patient's immune system that causes a reaction, says Sozza.
How does the heart transplant waiting list work in Brazil?
The heart transplant waiting list currently has about 380 people waiting for the procedure in Brazil, says Katiuscia Freitas.
É It is necessary that the patient is registered in the single technical register of the National Transplantation System (SNT). This system is managed through the SUS and coordinated with state transplant centers.
Regardless of social status, whether the person has health insurance or not, all patients are on the same waiting list for organ or tissue transplants, ponders Katiuscia.
According to the transplant manager, there are cases that will be prioritized due to the severity. The indications are foreseen in the legislation. It is necessary for the doctor to prove the priority through exams and all indications are provided for in the legislation.
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Heart donation and transplantation
Organ donation takes place after brain death. Family consent is required for donation. The process involves assessing the viability of each organ, selection of recipients, logistics and organization so that the organ arrives on time at the recipient, according to Katiuscia.
In the case of the state of Goiás, which does not perform heart transplants, the medical team collects the heart and professionals from other states, such as the Federal District and São Paulo, seek the organ.
O heart has four hours of viability after removal from the body. For this, there is support from the Brazilian Air Force so that the transport takes place in a timely manner, explains the transplant manager at SES de Goiás.
Image credit:
[1] Elza Fiuza | Brazil Agency
By Lucas Afonso
Journalist
