Waiting for a heart transplant in Germany

Palisadian  Post | Chris Palmer

Since 1998 I have had a chronic heart condition called myocardiopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle caused by a virus. Last year my condition considerably worsened, resulting in near heart failure, and I had a mechanical heart pump implanted into my thorax in April.

These pumps, actually turbine propellers providing continuous blood flow, are wonders of modern technology that run 24/7, with energy supplied by an external battery. They may last up to five years, but unfortunately many don't hold out so long. Nevertheless, it is working far better than my heart and is keeping me going.

The only viable long-term therapy is a heart transplant. Due to problems with my mechanical pump's settings, I became eligible for placement on the high urgency (HU) heart transplant list in August. Unfortunately, one can't just order up a new heart on Monday and have it put in on Wednesday. You have to wait for a suitable donor. It must be a perfect match or they won't perform the transplant.

I am currently at the Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, located in Bad Oeynhausen, Last year there were 393 heart transplants in Germany, but there are 1,000 patients waiting for a heart.

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