What is the immediate recovery?
It is variable. The sicker the patient is going into the transplant, the longer their recovery is, so we discuss that with the families. The patients that are on more medical support going in tend to be in the hospital longer, anywhere from six to eight weeks recovering. If a patient’s coming in from home or is out on the floor waiting, it’s often two to three weeks that they’re in the hospital; half of that time’s in the ICU and half of that time’s out on the floor. And really, the last four or five days of their hospitalization is the family learning all of their medicines, learning the care after transplant, and becoming fully comfortable with going home and caring for their child.

Heather Bastardi, MSN, RN, PNP, Transplant Coordinator, Heart Transplant Program

What should families expect from their time in the ICU?
The CICU can be a scary, overwhelming place for patients and families. I strongly recommend that families, who know that they’re coming in, have a tour of the CICU, just to have someone walk them around the unit so they know the layout and have a general idea of what to expect. Families can expect to be well supported by the entire CICU team. Time spent in the CICU can be scary but social workers, psychologists, and Child Life specialists work alongside the entire team to best support each and every family.

Kate Huyler, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit