Selection of patients for cardiac transplantation

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 75; no. 1; pp. 2 - 9
• Main Authors: COPELAND, J. G, EMERY, R. W, LEVINSON, M. M, ICENOGLE, T. B, CARRIER, M, OTT, R. A, COPELAND, J. A, MCALEER-RHENMAN, M. J, NICHOLSON, S. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1987
• Subjects: Age Factors; Bioethics; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiomyopathies - diagnosis; Cardiomyopathies - mortality; Cardiomyopathies - surgery; Heart Diseases - diagnosis; Heart Diseases - mortality; Heart Diseases - surgery; Heart Transplantation; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Medical sciences; Patient Care Planning; Patient Selection; Prognosis; Quality of Life; Registries; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Tissue Donors; United States; United States; Heart; Human; Counter indication; Indication; Surgery; Selection; Cardiovascular disease; Recipient; Homotransplantation; Health Care and Public Health; Arizona Health Sciences Center; Medicaid; Professional Patient Relationship
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.75.1.2

Selection of potential cardiac recipients is not a simple process. Identification of patients who are declining from end-stage cardiac disease and may be expected to die within 12 months or less and deciding which of a number of cardiac invalids are reasonable candidates for cardiac transplantation involves prognostication as well as a working knowledge of the expected benefits and survival rates in cardiac transplantation. Screening by means of the currently accepted contraindications for cardiac transplantation is somewhat more difficult in 1986 than it was 10 years ago when these contraindications were changing less rapidly. However, for optimal use of the limited supply of donor organs and maintenance of reasonable survival rates such screening is absolutely necessary. A second area of restriction that is less approachable by the physician is that of financial limitations. It would appear that the working poor and lower middle class may be deprived of the opportunity for cardiac transplantation much as they are deprived of the opportunity for optimal medical care in our society today.