title: Cardiac Transplant Postoperative Management and Care.
abstract: Heart failure impacts a multitude of individuals each year. Treatment is based on the progression of the disease and severity of symptoms. Cardiac transplant is the gold standard treatment of advanced heart failure, although the availability of organs limits the number of transplants received each year. Postoperative care and monitoring for cardiac transplant is complex and requires specialized nurses and providers at transplant centers for successful outcomes. This article outlines cardiac transplant from preoperative care through transplant, as well as posttransplant monitoring and care including discharge. Special attention is focused on management in the intensive care unit setting and potential complications that can occur in the immediate postoperative period. Interventions for potential complications are also highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Samuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor (Mss Freeman, Koerner, Clark, and Halabicky); and University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor (Mss Freeman and Halabicky).
authors.forename: Regi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koerner
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halabicky
mesh_terms: D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*