Heart transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
Liver cirrhosis is considered to be a contraindication to heart transplantation. However, the clinical outcome of heart transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis has not been reported. Here, we sought to evaluate the clinical outcome of heart transplantation in cirrhotic patients.


METHODS
Data were collected by retrospective chart review. Patients with liver cirrhosis at the time of transplantation were included.


RESULTS
Between 1987 and 2007, 12 patients with liver cirrhosis underwent heart transplantation at the authors' hospital. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on preoperative abdominal sonography in five, autopsy in five, and laparotomy in two patients. Causes of heart failure were dilated cardiomyopathy in four, coronary artery disease in three, congenital heart disease in three and valvular heart disease in two patients. Causes of liver cirrhosis were alcoholism in two, cardiac in seven, and unknown in three patients. The Child classification was class A in three, class B in five and class C in four patients. Overall, the hospital mortality rate was 50% and major in-hospital complications occurred in nine patients (75%). Patients with non-cardiomyopathy diagnosis, previous sternotomy, and massive ascites had a high hospital mortality rate. The median follow-up duration was 33.5 months. There was no late death. Late post-transplant complications occurred in four patients and there was no event of liver dysfunction. All survivors were in Child class A at outpatient follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there was high mortality and morbidity, patients with end-stage heart failure and liver cirrhosis can be considered for heart transplantation with careful case selection.
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. ronbin@ntuh.gov.tw
Ron-Bin
RB
Hsu
Chung-I
CI
Chang
Fang-Yue
FY
Lin
Nai-Kuan
NK
Chou
Nai-Hsin
NH
Chi
Shoei-Shen
SS
Wang
Shu-Hsun
SH
Chu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents