Can a person live with only ten percent of their heart working

[maxorlady]

My brother is 54 he had a major heart attach last February, they did a double bypass and put in a pig valve, his kidneys started failing and his liver, he was on dialysis for a couple weeks,  he ended up with gangrene in his feet and had to have his toes amputated.  He went to the dr. and they told him that only ten percent of his heart is working, and is sending him for a second opinion on getting a heart transplant.  How long can a person live with only ten percent of their heart working.  And would he qualify for a heart transplant after everything else that has happened and what is the chances of him surviving a heart transplant if they can do it.  How quick would they have to do it.  Again how long can a person live on ten percent of their heart working

[maxorlady]

Also he has a anurysm on his heart that has got bigger the last couple months

[mammo]

I'm so sorry about your brother. Unfortunately I doubt if he would even be considered for a heart transplant due to his age and health.  Hearts normally go to the younger people first, as do most organs.  Ten percent isn't good, but I'm not qualified to answer this.  I do hope he is in the hospital where they can watch him, and keep all the pressure off his heart.

[kenkeith]

To give some perspective, there may be a misunderstaning regarding the statement only 10% of the heart is working!  Usually what 10%, or any percent figure associated with the heart is the amount of blood pumped into circulation with each heartbeat and normal is 50 to 75% ejection fraction (EF). Sometimes the EF can be increased with therapy, but the danger of having a low ejection fraction is there is more blood going to the heart from the lungs than the heart is able to pump into circulation.

More than 5 years ago, I had an EF of 13% and currently my EF is normal at 59%  How long can one survive with a very low EF (10%) depends on the underlying cause to the heart muscle dysfunction,  and whether the condition can be stablized...if the EF can get up to 25% or higher, and there is a reduction of blood/oxygen demand one can manage quite well and that also depends on the general health.

Where is the aneurysm?  Is it the septum (wall separating  heart chambers)?  The aorta?  The danger of an aneurysm is the risk of rupture and that depends in part on the size, etc.  There are successful treatments available.

To be a candiate for heart transplant •Their heart disease needs to be advanced enough to be truly life-threatening (most transplant candidates are considered to be at risk of dying within the next one to two years).
•Other treatment possibilities have been exhausted.
•They must be physically healthy enough (with the exception of their weak heart) to endure the operation.
•They must be psychologically strong enough to handle the stress associated with a heart transplant and the kinds of lifestyle demands that are required after heart transplantation.

Unqualified include individuals •Age older than 70
•Problems with blood circulation
•Severe kidney, lung or liver disease
•Untreatable high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension)
•Cancer
•Psychological or emotional problems that would interfere with the individual adhering to the lifestyle changes required after a heart transplant, including lifelong use of medication
•Certain infections.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 88% of heart transplant patients are still living one year after surgery, 72% are alive 5 years after surgery, about 50% are alive after 10 years and 16% are alive 20 years after a heart transplant.

[maxorlady]

The aneurysm is in the right aortic.  They have transferred him, but haven't said much yet.  They are running a bunch of tests.  His kidneys are failing and he has a lot of fluid around his heart and in his stomach area, he gained thirty pounds in two weeks time.  Thank you for your responses.  The nurse said she didn't know if his kidneys would kick back in or not.  They have not started diaylisis on him, but when he had the heart attack before his kidneys and liver had started failing, they were giving him dialysis everyday for a month or so.  I don't know what his blood pressure is, but heard it is very low.

[snave]

as long as lord wants him to live