Genetic defects do happen in rare cases where abnormal genes from either or both parents mix to create some problems with the unborn child. Children born with genetic defects may suffer from a number of different problems or complications during their lives. One such set of genetic defects may affect the heart. Often, it is just a developmental problem that leads to the infant having a faulty heart. Heart problems either due to structural abnormalities or due to disease related conditions need to be sorted out immediately. With the use of modern medical technology, it is possible to perform an infant heart transplant with a fair degree of success.
One important thing when it comes to the development of an infant who receives a heart transplant is how soon the procedure occurs. Studies have shown that lower the age, the higher the infant heart transplant life expectancy. The logic behind this appears to be connected to the immune system of the infant. As the immune system is underdeveloped, the body will not reject the heart that it receives from the donor. Rejection is one of the main problems associated with a heart transplant procedure.
In recent times, it has become evident that more than 10% of all heart transplant procedures have been performed on infants and young children. One issue with developing accurate infant heart transplant statistics is the fact that many of the patients who have undergone heart transplant procedures are still alive. The first heart transplant was performed in the late 1960’s. Therefore, data associated with modern infant heart transplant statistics is fairly unreliable because the data continues to be generated and processed.
The critical period when it comes to infant heart transplant success rate is the period during the first few days after the procedure. Infants who survive the first couple of weeks of their procedure tend to live beyond 5 years without any complications. As mentioned above, the success rate associated with infant heart transplant procedures depends on the timing of the procedure. Other factors that affect the success of a heart transplant include the way in which the donor organ has been handled. Absolute care must be taken to ensure that the donor heart is not damaged while it is moved from donor to recipient.
The infant heart transplant success rate does not really matter when it comes to whether the procedure needs to be performed or not. In most cases, the heart transplant procedure is the last option possible for saving the life of the patient.
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