title: Cardiac Transplantation: Considerations for the Intensive Care Unit Nurse.
abstract: Heart transplantation is a recommended and curative treatment option for patients with advanced heart failure symptoms despite receiving optimal medical and device therapy. The availability of donor organs limits the number of patients able to receive a heart transplant. The overall outcome of patients able to receive a heart transplant is determined by the successful delivery of essential nursing care. Understanding the specific interventions and therapies unique to this patient population is critical to their care. This article reviews considerations for the intensive care unit clinician in the management of heart transplant patients in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Heart Failure Program, Medstar Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street, Adv HF Program, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Electronic address: amgnp4@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moore-Gibbs
authors.affiliation: Advanced Heart Failure Program, Medstar Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street, Adv HF Program, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bither
mesh_terms: D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D006084:Graft Rejection; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007239:Infections / Q000451:nursing; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000451:nursing
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Advanced heart failure; Denervated heart; Endomyocardial biopsy; Heart transplantation; Immunosuppressive therapy; Rejection