title: Cardiac transplantation: the final therapeutic option for the treatment of heart failure.
abstract: End-stage heart failure is still associated with a decrease in quality and prognosis of life. Cardiac transplantation remains the final extraordinary therapeutic option for the treatment of truly irreversible end-stage heart failure in all age groups. The selection process of candidates and the acceptance of patients with relative contra-indications is characterized by the experience and skills of an interdisciplinary transplant team, which should have access to different mechanical circulatory support systems for short-term or long-term use: bridging to transplant as well as for recovery.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. mkoerner@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Koerner
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lafuente
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Noon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torre-Amione
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D005544:Forecasting; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000639:trends; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014850:Waiting Lists