[Cardiac transplantation. Indications, delays, surveillance]

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 1990 Nov;83(13):1967-70.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The number cardiac transplantation has been dramatically increasing for the last year and the results are satisfactory regarding survival or functional capacity. The observed increase of cardiac transplantation may tend to vulgarize it. However, this intervention should be only considered in a selected group of patients who have no other option. Many reports concerned various technical approach for a clearcut determination of high and low risk population of patients with congestive heart failure. But, considering individual patients, the value of each prognostic parameter remains unresolved. Nevertheless the more discriminant parameters for the prognosis assessment are: the left ventricular ejection fraction, the NYHA class, right heart catheterization data, the functional capacity, the cardiothoracic ratio on chest X ray, the ischemic etiology of the disease. The role of neuro-hormonal determinant such as norepinephrine circulating concentration or cardiac uptake on MIBG imaging should be further investigated, especially for patients treated by ACE inhibitors or beta blockers. Contraindications for cardiac transplantation are less restrictive, nowadays. Concerning patients selected, and waiting for heart transplantation or patients non primary selected survival can be improved by adjusting medical therapy on objective efficacy criteria.

MeSH terms

  • Contraindications
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / surgery*
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Prognosis