The heart transplant program at our university hospital declined my brother for surgery. Is there anything else that we can do?
It is fortunate for your brother that he has family around him at this time. We are sure that you are all greatly disappointed. There are several things that you should try to find out from the transplant group. You or your brother might talk with them directly. Or you may question the doctor that referred your brother to the program.
First, you need to know if the team believes that your brother needs surgery right now. They may have decided that some other type of treatment is best. Or he may not be sick enough to warrant heart transplant currently. If so, your brother's own doctors can continue with his treatment for now. They can refer him again when the time is appropriate.
Alternatively, the transplant team may respond that your brother's heart does need replacement. You should then ask why they are unable to accept him to their program. They may have found that your brother is too ill to survive the surgery. Or they may not offer exactly the type of surgery that your brother requires.
These are only some of the several potential reasons why the team might have decided that they cannot transplant your brother successfully. You can ask them if there is anything that you or your brother can do to make transplantation feasible. Ask also if there is any other transplant center to which your brother might apply.