Support & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How long will I have to wait for my heart?
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The waiting period for heart transplantation can last anywhere from several days to several months. If patients are able to wait at home, they are given a beeper so the Penn Heart Transplant team can reach them when a donor heart becomes available.
- How is the heart waiting list structured?
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Donor hearts are given to those with the most urgent need. If two people match criteria for an available donor heart, the heart goes to the patient who is the sickest and who has waited the longest.