Heart Transplant Criteria | Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, New Jersey
Archived: 2026-04-23 16:40
Heart Transplant Criteria | Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, New Jersey
Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program
Treatment & Care
Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Care
Programs and Specialties
Heart Transplantation and ...
Heart Transplant Criteria
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Heart Transplant Criteria
A heart transplant is a treatment option for end-stage heart failure. It
is recommended by the Newark Beth Israel Heart Transplant Program when
patients remain symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment options.
For select patients, a heart transplant can drastically improve their
quality of life, especially when compared to untreated patients.
Heart failure (HF) is a serious problem nationally and worldwide. HF symptoms
often mimic those of aging, including
:
Shortness of breath
Swelling
Fatigue
Difficulty sleeping
Coughing
Decreased appetite
Increased urinary frequency
Racing heartbeat
Anxiety
In most cases, and especially when diagnosed early, treatment options like
medications and sometimes medical devices can alleviate symptoms and decrease
the chances of HF advancing to more serious stages. When conservative
treatment options no longer control HF, end-stage heart failure may be
diagnosed and a heart transplant may be recommended.
The following heart transplant criteria are considered in the decision-making process
:
Severe symptoms, including shortness of breath at rest or with minimal exertion
Fluid retention episodes
Reduced cardiac output at rest
Objective evidence of severe cardiac dysfunction, including echocardiogram
and 6-minute walk test results
One or more hospitalizations because of HF in the last 6 months
The number of patients who meet heart transplant criteria and could benefit
from a heart transplant greatly exceeds the amount of available donor
hearts. Thus, the heart transplant waiting list at hospitals is usually long.
Heart transplant contraindications
A heart transplant is not always the appropriate treatment option for every
patient. The Newark Beth Israel Heart Transplant Team notes, that in addition
to heart transplant criteria, there are absolute heart transplant contraindications,
conditions that render a person ineligible for transplant, including advanced
and irreversible:
Renal failure
Liver disease
Pulmonary parenchymal disease
Pulmonary artery hypertension
Cancer
Relative or non-absolute contraindications include
:
Severe peripheral vascular disease
Severe cerebrovascular disease
Severe osteoporosis
Severe obesity (BMI greater than 35 kg/ m
2
)
Acute pulmonary embolism
Active infection
Age greater than 70
Psychological instability
Substance abuse, active or acute
Diabetes mellitus with organ damage
Lack of social support or sufficient resources for consistent medication
management and follow-up appointments
Heart transplant waiting list
Newark Beth Israel heart transplant candidates are placed on the national
transplant waiting list. The list is a computer database that contains
medical information for every person who is waiting for any type of organ
transplant in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It is run by the United Network
for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a private, non-profit organization that manages
the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal
government.
There is no way of knowing how long it will take to find a donor's heart.
Some of the heart transplant criteria that are evaluated when selecting
a new heart include
:
Blood type
Height and weight
Geographic area
While on the heart transplant waiting list, Newark Beth Israel heart transplant patients
:
Regularly attend follow-up appointments with their cardiologist
Regularly communicate with their heart transplant coordinator
Meet with their heart surgeon
Have access to ongoing heart transplant education and support
Patients are encouraged to maintain their health while on the heart transplant
waiting list. They are also advised to
:
Stay up to date regarding necessary routine medical testing
Notify their Newark Beth Israel heart transplant coordinator if they develop
new health problems
Carefully follow the treatment plan provided by the Newark Beth Israel
heart transplant team
Patients are asked to stay within 4 hours of the hospital at all times.
When a donor’s heart is found, a heart transplant coordinator calls
the patient right away. Patients are instructed to arrive at the hospital
as soon as possible. While patients wait for their donor heart, the heart
transplant team
:
Makes sure the heart is a good match for the patient
Begins to prepare the donor heart for transplant
Patient’s families can accompany them until they go into surgery.
Once the donor's heart is prepared and the patient is ready, surgery begins.
Our Quality
Testimonials
Appointments
LVADs are a bridge to transplant for so many of our patients who are living with heart failure. Today, through this new procedure, we can significantly extend and enhance their life while they wait for transplant.
Grady
Read More
Tarik is doing well and he is excited to eat a meal outside of a hospital bed. He is also looking forward to returning to the gym and getting back to work.
Tarik
Read More
“I could not believe it when I received the call on a Sunday afternoon,” said Ian. “The nurses and doctors that took care of me before, during and post-surgery are unbelievable."
Ian
Read More
View All Heart Transplant Stories
Watch Testimonial
Watch Testimonial
Watch Testimonial
View All Posts
Mar 23, 2026
RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health to Spotlight Expansive Cardiovascular Research at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session & Expo
Jan 16, 2026
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Vascular Non-Invasive Laboratory Receives 30 Year Milestone Gold Recognition from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Its Long-Term Commitment to Quality Vascular Testing
Aug 22, 2025
Keep Chronic Diseases in Check
menu
View Doctors
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark
,
NJ
07112
USA
(973) 926-7000
Get Directions
Hours
Open 24 hours
(973) 926-7205
Not finding the treatment you're looking for?
View All Services
Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program
Treatment & Care
Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Care
Programs and Specialties
Heart Transplantation and ...
Heart Transplant Criteria
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Heart Transplant Criteria
A heart transplant is a treatment option for end-stage heart failure. It
is recommended by the Newark Beth Israel Heart Transplant Program when
patients remain symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment options.
For select patients, a heart transplant can drastically improve their
quality of life, especially when compared to untreated patients.
Heart failure (HF) is a serious problem nationally and worldwide. HF symptoms
often mimic those of aging, including
:
Shortness of breath
Swelling
Fatigue
Difficulty sleeping
Coughing
Decreased appetite
Increased urinary frequency
Racing heartbeat
Anxiety
In most cases, and especially when diagnosed early, treatment options like
medications and sometimes medical devices can alleviate symptoms and decrease
the chances of HF advancing to more serious stages. When conservative
treatment options no longer control HF, end-stage heart failure may be
diagnosed and a heart transplant may be recommended.
The following heart transplant criteria are considered in the decision-making process
:
Severe symptoms, including shortness of breath at rest or with minimal exertion
Fluid retention episodes
Reduced cardiac output at rest
Objective evidence of severe cardiac dysfunction, including echocardiogram
and 6-minute walk test results
One or more hospitalizations because of HF in the last 6 months
The number of patients who meet heart transplant criteria and could benefit
from a heart transplant greatly exceeds the amount of available donor
hearts. Thus, the heart transplant waiting list at hospitals is usually long.
Heart transplant contraindications
A heart transplant is not always the appropriate treatment option for every
patient. The Newark Beth Israel Heart Transplant Team notes, that in addition
to heart transplant criteria, there are absolute heart transplant contraindications,
conditions that render a person ineligible for transplant, including advanced
and irreversible:
Renal failure
Liver disease
Pulmonary parenchymal disease
Pulmonary artery hypertension
Cancer
Relative or non-absolute contraindications include
:
Severe peripheral vascular disease
Severe cerebrovascular disease
Severe osteoporosis
Severe obesity (BMI greater than 35 kg/ m
2
)
Acute pulmonary embolism
Active infection
Age greater than 70
Psychological instability
Substance abuse, active or acute
Diabetes mellitus with organ damage
Lack of social support or sufficient resources for consistent medication
management and follow-up appointments
Heart transplant waiting list
Newark Beth Israel heart transplant candidates are placed on the national
transplant waiting list. The list is a computer database that contains
medical information for every person who is waiting for any type of organ
transplant in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It is run by the United Network
for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a private, non-profit organization that manages
the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal
government.
There is no way of knowing how long it will take to find a donor's heart.
Some of the heart transplant criteria that are evaluated when selecting
a new heart include
:
Blood type
Height and weight
Geographic area
While on the heart transplant waiting list, Newark Beth Israel heart transplant patients
:
Regularly attend follow-up appointments with their cardiologist
Regularly communicate with their heart transplant coordinator
Meet with their heart surgeon
Have access to ongoing heart transplant education and support
Patients are encouraged to maintain their health while on the heart transplant
waiting list. They are also advised to
:
Stay up to date regarding necessary routine medical testing
Notify their Newark Beth Israel heart transplant coordinator if they develop
new health problems
Carefully follow the treatment plan provided by the Newark Beth Israel
heart transplant team
Patients are asked to stay within 4 hours of the hospital at all times.
When a donor’s heart is found, a heart transplant coordinator calls
the patient right away. Patients are instructed to arrive at the hospital
as soon as possible. While patients wait for their donor heart, the heart
transplant team
:
Makes sure the heart is a good match for the patient
Begins to prepare the donor heart for transplant
Patient’s families can accompany them until they go into surgery.
Once the donor's heart is prepared and the patient is ready, surgery begins.
Our Quality
Testimonials
Appointments
LVADs are a bridge to transplant for so many of our patients who are living with heart failure. Today, through this new procedure, we can significantly extend and enhance their life while they wait for transplant.
Grady
Read More
Tarik is doing well and he is excited to eat a meal outside of a hospital bed. He is also looking forward to returning to the gym and getting back to work.
Tarik
Read More
“I could not believe it when I received the call on a Sunday afternoon,” said Ian. “The nurses and doctors that took care of me before, during and post-surgery are unbelievable."
Ian
Read More
View All Heart Transplant Stories
Watch Testimonial
Watch Testimonial
Watch Testimonial
View All Posts
Mar 23, 2026
RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Health to Spotlight Expansive Cardiovascular Research at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session & Expo
Jan 16, 2026
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Vascular Non-Invasive Laboratory Receives 30 Year Milestone Gold Recognition from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Its Long-Term Commitment to Quality Vascular Testing
Aug 22, 2025
Keep Chronic Diseases in Check
menu
View Doctors
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark
,
NJ
07112
USA
(973) 926-7000
Get Directions
Hours
Open 24 hours
(973) 926-7205
Not finding the treatment you're looking for?
View All Services