ByIANSlife Features
November 18, 2020 (IANSlife) The coronavirus has led to a global pandemic which has affected millions worldwide. The key manifestations of COVID-19 ranges from mild upper respiratory symptoms to multiorgan failure and death, disease severity among patients in need of heart transplantation on chronic immunosuppression needs much attention and caution.
The relation between immunosuppression and COVID-19 may render Heart Transplant recipients more susceptible to acquiring the infection and susceptible to more severe disease.
The pandemic has also had an impact on the delivery of care for patients suffering from heart failure and awaiting transplant. Specially, the risk of being infected with COVID-19 and exposure with healthcare workers needs to be balanced compared to the high risk of mortality on the waitlist. Heart Transplant is a life-saving surgery in which a diseased, failing heart is replaced with a healthier donor heart.
Heart transplant during the pandemic is achievable when appropriate precautions are taken. Further studies need to be done to understand immunosuppression management in heart transplant recipients affected by COVID-19.
Dr Udgeath Dhir, Director and Head, CTVS, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram shares few safety procedures employed to ensure 100 percent success rate:
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