Q: What is the heterotopic heart transplant?

Answer: Mostly heart transplant is orthotopic means the patient's own heart is removed and new heart is transplanted.

In heterotopic heart transplant, surgeon may decide to leave the patient's own heart along with new heart (yes! double heart).  The chambers and blood vessels of both hearts can be connected. It may be perform when native heart has a chance to recover, there is a high likelihood of rejection, if the donor heart is sensed to be weak or the patient has underlying severe pulmonary hypertension.