Organ transplants

Getting a new heart and a new lease of life

The number of people on the waiting list for a heart transplant has more than tripled over the last 10 years. Some have died waiting

Mr Mohamed Rezal Yusof collapsed after his second heart attack in 2015 and was fitted with a left ventricular assist device as a bridge to transplant. He underwent a successful 11-hour heart transplant last year.
Mr Mohamed Rezal Yusof collapsed after his second heart attack in 2015 and was fitted with a left ventricular assist device as a bridge to transplant. He underwent a successful 11-hour heart transplant last year. ST PHOTO: SYAMIL SAPARI
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Just three months after his first heart attack in November 2014, Mr Mohamed Rezal Yusof suffered a second one - this time more severe and eventually putting him on the waiting list for a transplant.

While the first heart attack was managed with blood thinning medication as doctors did not detect any blockage in the arteries, the second one severely damaged his heart muscle.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 26, 2018, with the headline Getting a new heart and a new lease of life. Subscribe