BEST PROVIDERS OF SPECIALIST CARE
HEART TRANSPLANT SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA
Having performed Malaysia ’ s first heart transplant in 1997 , the National Heart Institute ( IJN ) has a long and proud history of treating cardiac patients in Malaysia as well as those from overseas who are familiar with the hospital ’ s global reputation .
IJN ’ s role is more crucial today than ever given the growing prevalence of heart disease across Asia and particularly Malaysia where the average age of incidence is far lower than its neighbours .
Heart transplants are usually a last resort for those with the most severe forms of heart failure that current medical therapy or surgery cannot help .
In patients with heart failure , IJN ’ s doctors first try to optimise their condition through medication . If they ’ re still severely disabled by their symptoms while on optimal medical therapy , their names will be put on a waiting list for a heart transplant .
Since the success of a transplant is highly dependent on the patient chosen , the selection process is meticulous .
“ Usually , we ’ ll choose people with single organ failure . Since patients with heart failure may also develop kidney or liver failure , we need to catch them early before they deteriorate to multiple organ failure ,” Dr Azmee Mohd Ghazi , clinical director for heart failure and transplant at IJN , told Global Health Asia-Pacific .
When a suitable heart becomes available , usually after a patient is declared brain dead from an accident or
Dato ’ Dr Mohd Nazeri Nordin
stroke , the organ will be retrieved and sent to IJN with the help of Malaysia ’ s National Transplant Resource Centre , police department , air force , and fire department . The hospital ’ s transplant team and the recipient will be standing by so that the heart can be transplanted immediately .
Following the procedure , patients will typically spend a week in intensive care , followed by two more weeks on the ward for rehabilitation , after which they can usually return home when their condition is stable .
“ Basically we need to change or exchange their heart for a donor heart .
This is the ultimate form of therapy in end-stage heart disease ,” said Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim , chief executive of IJN , on receiving the latest Global Health Asia-Pacific Award for Heart Transplant Service Provider of the Year in the Asia-Pacific .
“ Even when you look at the international landscape , transplant services in any country are a very niche service . But since we represent the nation , we believe it is our responsibility to be able to offer the highest level of expertise in this discipline . Being the national heart centre , we need to provide these services ,” he said .
Since IJN ’ s first heart transplant , it has continued to reach a number of important milestones , including the first mechanical heart implantation as a bridge to transplantation in 2005 . It remains the only hospital in the country with the expertise to perform heart transplants , with over 30 procedures completed successfully to date .
IJN ’ s role is more crucial today than ever given the growing prevalence of heart disease across Asia and particularly Malaysia where the average age of incidence is far lower than its neighbours .
94 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com