title: Do long-term results justify bridging to heart transplantation in patients with multi-organ dysfunction?
abstract: This retrospective study was performed to determine the influence of multi-organ dysfunction and the type of preoperative hemodynamic support on mortality after heart transplantation. All patients undergoing heart transplantation during a 6 year period were divided into 3 groups: group A patients (n = 110) had stable hemodynamics on oral medication, group B recipients (n = 41) received continuous i.v. catecholamine application, and in group C (n = 21) mechanical hemodynamic support was necessary. In groups B and C elevated serum creatinine and transaminase levels-reflecting renal and hepatic dysfunction-were detected more often and the survival rate was worse during the first six months (A: 85%, B: 71%, C: 52%, p < 0.01). In group C the prognosis of patients with multi-organ dysfunction was significantly worse compared to patients with normal renal and hepatic function (38% vs. 75%; p < 0.01). In recipients surviving for six months, there was no difference in long-term prognosis between the groups studied. It is concluded that heart transplantation in patients with multi-organ dysfunction on invasive hemodynamic support bears a significantly increased risk in the early postoperative period. In view of the current donor shortage the condition of other organs should be improved before transplantation as far as possible, even using long-term mechanical support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hirt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haverich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000401:mortality*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate