title: Palliative care in cardiopulmonary transplantation.
abstract: Cardiopulmonary transplantation is a life-prolonging therapy available to a select population of patients with cardiac or respiratory failure. Transplantation is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and unmet palliative care need. Despite recommendations that palliative care should be a core component of the heart and lung transplant process, collaboration within clinical practice is extremely rare. A key reason for this is the misperception among patients, their families and transplant clinicians, that palliative care is analogous with end of life care. Other challenges include prognostication, communication, and the balance of hope and reality. We suggest a change in clinical practice within cardiopulmonary transplantation, whereby palliative care takes place alongside active management. Greater partnership working will demonstrate clinical credibility and highlight the impact of palliative care interventions. Education is required to address current misperceptions and further research should explore the effect of initiatives to improve palliative care provision for this patient group.
authors: Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, UK.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: McKenna
authors: Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, UK.
authors: Stephen C
authors: SC
authors: Clark
mesh_terms: D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Heart failure; Heart transplantation; Lung transplantation; Palliative care; Quality of life; Respiratory conditions