Cardiothoracic Surgery

Know More about Organ Donation - Heart Transplant

What is heart transplant?
  • When a patient's heart failure becomes extremely severe and cannot be stabilized by medication, medical devices or surgical procedures alone, a heart transplant surgery will be required.
  • ABO blood group & body size compatibility of the donor and recipient are required.
  • The first successful heart transplant in Hong Kong was performed at the Grantham Hospital in 1992
Common conditions requiring heart transplant
  • Primary dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Ischaemic heart disease
  • Heart diseases due to heart valve disorders
  • Congenital malformation of heart
Criteria for deceased heart donor
  • Brain death donor aged below 70
  • Meet the general criteria for organ donation
  • No history of heart disease
  • Normal heart function as assessed by cardiologists
  • A heart donor who is a carrier of hepatitis will be considered if there is a patient waiting desperately for a heart transplant

Know More about Organ Donation - Lung Transplant

What is lung transplant?
  • A lung transplant is considered for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease or end-stage pulmonary vascular disease.
  • ABO blood group & body size compatibility of the donor and recipient are required.
  • The first successful lung transplant in Hong Kong was performed at the Grantham Hospital in 1995.
Common conditions requiring lung transplant
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • Pulmonary hypertension
Criteria for deceased lung donor
  • Brain death donor aged below 70
  • Meet the general criteria for organ donation
  • No lung disease
  • Reasonable lung condition as assessed by physician

Healthcare professionals would assess a patient's suitability for deceased organ donation, including heart and lung, after he / she has been declared brain dead. The Organ Donation Coordinator will affirm with the family members if the deceased has expressed a wish of organ donation while alive. The Coordinator will also explain the details of organ donation to the family members and seek their written consent to deceased organ donation. The family members do not have to take the initiative and propose deceased organ donation.