title: Does the episode of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cardiac donors increase the risk of heart transplantation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of accepting cardiac donors after an episode of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1997, 13 resuscitated donor hearts (10 M, 3 F, age 15-54 years) after sudden cardiac arrest have been transplanted. The retrospective analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Allografts after resuscitation episode were implanted in 13 patients (6 M, 7 F, age 31-65 years). 11 patients were on the urgency list and two of them required periodically intravenous inotropic therapy. Two patients (P.A, B.J) died in the first 24 hours after procedure (cause of death: pulmonary embolism, extensive cardiac ischemia). During follow up (6-48 months, avg. 25.1 +/- 15.9 months) none of the 11 patients died. All patients are NYHA functional class I or I/II. Total time of cardiopulmonary resuscitation did not influence the time of reperfusion (p > 0.05). Analysis of cardiac index Cl (l/min/m2) at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 72 hours after heart transplantation showed correct values during following days. Echocardiographic and invasive examinations (8 patients) do not show any abnormalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that acceptance of cardiac donors after cardiopulmonary resuscitation may not increase the risk of heart transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Chirurgii Serca Naczyń i Transplantologii Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie. kardiochir@szpitaljp2.krakow.pl
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sadowski
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Przybyłowski
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kapelak
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piatek
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wróbel
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartuś
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D000075202:Contraindications; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods