**6. Post-transplant care**

A small number of centers—one each in Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and two in Saudi Arabia—offer posttransplant care to heart recipients who have received transplants elsewhere and are returning to the region. The Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi, which primarily handles cases requiring transplantation in the United States, currently has the most experience in the Gulf region. Recently in Qatar, they started to develop an integrated post-transplant program that includes cardiologists, surgeons, transplant specialists, social workers, physiotherapists & coordinators who mostly deal with patients who had their transplants in other countries. Gaining experience & learning lessons from such patients who had their transplant outside is *Establishing a Heart Transplantation Program in a Middle East Country: Requirements… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.113333*

crucial to developing the care for those patients who will carry on their transplantation in the region. Fully comprehensive post-transplant care is vital for successful outcomes. Developing a specialized transplant clinics with expertise in immunosuppressive management, infection control, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up is essential. Collaborations with local healthcare providers and patient support groups can ensure seamless continuity of care. Furthermore, establishing partnerships with international transplant centers can facilitate knowledge transfer and the adoption of best practices in post-transplant care [29].

Post-transplant care is very critical & even more complex than the pre-transplant period. Certain important points need to be framed & stressed:

#### **6.1 Communication and trust**

Objective impartial communication channels to be established between patients, their families, and the medical team including a transparent doctor who is compassionate & committed to take the full time needed to alleviate anxiety and build trust from the pre to post-care periods. Centers should offer comprehensive post-transplant care programs. A program that includes support services, education, and counseling to help patients and their families navigate the emotional and physical challenges associated with the transplant process. Full holistic support is critical to address the psychological, emotional, and social aspects of a patient's well-being. These should include support groups, counseling services, and most importantly financial & charity aid to incentivize the willingness to dispute the remodifications encountered during the post-transplant period till recovery. Expertise, hospital reputation, and the patient experience are very crucial in post-transplant care. Tackling all aspects of the potential risks empowers patients to ensure the best possible consequences for such a huge transformative impact on their future lives. Ensuring that post-surgery care does not stop upon discharge but in fact continues at home with check-in appointments, conducting calls with transplant coordinators, and cardiac rehabilitation programs which are all feasible in most of Middle Eastern countries [30].
