How old was former United States VP Dick Cheney when he received a heart transplant?

Former VP of the United States (2001 to 2009), Dick Cheney received a heart transplant on March 24, 2012. Because he was 71 years old at the time of the actual surgery, it sparked discussions about the upper age of transplant patients. Cheney had been on the heart transplant list for more than 20 months.

Specifically, concerning heart transplants, some doctors and medical centers will not perform a heart transplant on a patient over 65, but others will perform transplants on patients who are as old as 72. So, it was not unreasonable for Cheney to have the operation performed at age of 71. In fact, the year before Cheney had his transplant, 332 heart transplants were performed on people over 65.

Now, it is clear that notwithstanding the age of the recipient, all heart recipients say that they are forever grateful for the lifesaving gift that a heart transplant brings.

In Cheney's case, his doctor told him that as an otherwise healthy 71 year old man he could expect to live another 10 years with heart transplant surgery. So, Cheney got an extremely worthwhile gift.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

7 Comments

billyboy915

I thought it was an implant. I didn't think he HAD a heart beforehand!

Donna Carder-Kummer

The fact is: Only 1 in 50 people who are considered for heart transplant surgery and 1 in 50 people who receive a heart transplant are ages 70 or older. His unlimited funds to pay for this came from tax payer money, that’s why he received a heart transplant!

✨KRISTA✨

The NHS suggests that age is not a factor in determining whether a heart transplant is suitable, although they're rarely performed in people over the age of 65 because they often have other health issues that mean a transplant is too risky. The final decision about whether you are suitable for a transplant is a joint decision made by the transplant team. John Hopkins suggests the criteria acceptable for transplant is #1 having a maximal VO2 <10ml/kg/min with achievement of anaerobic metabolism. #2 Serve ischemia consistently limiting routine activity not amenable to revascularization. #3 Recurrent symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias refractory to all accepted therapeutic modalities. It is a joke that Cheney received one ahead of others that actually met the criteria! Sad really!

Donna Carder-Kummer

It’s because he had unlimited tax payer funds! I’ll bet that there are no other 71 year old people that was fortunate enough to receive a heart transplant!