Heart Transplantation

Heart failure is a major public health problem with significant associated morbidity and mortality. Heart transplantation remains the standard of care for highly selected patients with end-stage heart failure and absence of contraindications to transplantation. This chapter discusses indications and contraindications for transplantation; recipient evaluation, selection, and management; donor selection; timing of the procedure and surgical technique; medical management, including immunosuppression, prevention and treatment of infections, and other standard or preventive therapy; late complications; and functional status and long-term survival. Tables describe patient referral to a specialized center for heart transplantations; guidelines of indications for cardiac transplantation; organ dysfunction; pretransplantation evaluation; waiting lists; therapeutic options for patients with advanced or refractory heart failure; treating highly sensitized patients; suggested vaccinations; guidelines for donor hearts with severe infection; high-risk donor behavior; hemodynamic effect of commonly used parenteral agents; frequency of follow-up evaluations; revised International Society for Heart