title: Cardiac transplantation as a treatment option for the heart failure patient.
abstract: Cardiac transplantation is an effective therapy for a select group of heart failure patients. Timely referral of these patients is paramount to optimal patient care. After an extensive evaluation, suitable candidates are added to the national transplant waiting list and prioritized based on medical urgency. The waiting period then begins as these patients face a terminal illness with an unpredictable future.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Failure/Transplantation Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa 15213, USA. tokarczykt@msx.upmc.edu
authors.forename: Tammy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Tokarczyk
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D014850:Waiting Lists