Clinical outcomes following heart transplantation.
Since its first performance in 1967, cardiac transplantation has emerged from a medical curiosity to become the treatment of choice for advanced heart failure. Refinements in surgical technique, development of a standardized endomyocardial biopsy grading system, and the discovery of newer immunosuppressive medications have improved the outlook for today's heart-transplant recipients. For the most recent era, median survival has increased to 10 years and median survival conditional upon surviving the first transplant year is now >14 years. Quality of life is excellent. This article will concisely review the major clinical outcomes following transplantation including survival, quality of life, immunosuppression, and short- and long-term complications.
Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Laura
L
Murphy
Sean P
SP
Pinney
D001706:Biopsy; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D004699:Endocardium; D006333:Heart Failure; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009206:Myocardium; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents