The Heart Transplant at Edmonton Hospital

Xander Dolski underwent a heart transplant and the doctors are happy that the transplant was a success.

An eight-week-old Winnipeg boy underwent a heart transplant surgery at the Edmonton hospital just hours after he was born.

Edmonton is the pediatric heart transplant centre for the Prairies.

His problem was identified when he was in the womb.

The ultrasound performed at the 20th week of pregnancy revealed the problem in his heart.

Jennifer Martens his mother was brought from Winnipeg and admitted in the Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital.

The doctors put the fetus on the organ transplant list. Initially the problem looked very small but later it became complicated and scary as slowly started to affect the valves.

Advertisement

Then a suitable donor was identified and Xander was delivered by caesarian section five weeks prematurely weighing about five pounds.

He was rushed to the operation theatre to receive a transplant.

Advertisement

Dr. David Ross said that if the baby had born elsewhere then it would not have survived for more than three hours.

Dr. Yashu Coe pediatric cardiologist said that it was a very complicated surgery.

The boy would have to take a lengthy list of anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life and may need another heart at some point.