Outcomes in cardiac transplantation have improved during the past 30 years because of advances made in medicine and surgery. Patients referred for cardiac transplantation are examined through a rigorous evaluation process that involves a multidisciplinary approach to determine candidacy. The list for candidates awaiting transplantation has grown more rapidly than the donor pool, resulting in a need to expand the criteria for donors. Some centers now extend criteria to include older donors, those with prolonged periods of ischemia, donor-recipient mismatches, and donors requiring bypass surgery. Long-term outcomes from the expanded donor pool are under evaluation. Studies are currently in progress to explore inducing tolerance through bone marrow infusion and rejection detection with the use of a pacemaker. Future alternatives to transplantation include the left ventricular assist device as a bridge to recovery, xenotransplantation, and the totally artificial heart.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 May 1999
Transplantation|
May 01 1999
Heart Transplantation: State of the Art
Therm K. Rourke, RN, MA, CCTC, CCRN;
From the Cardiomyopathy and Transplant Center, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Reprint requests to: Theresa K. Rourke, RN, MA, CCTC, CCRN, Temple University Hospital, Cardiomyopathy and Transplant Center, Suite 320 Parkinson Pavilion, 3401 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140.
Search for other works by this author on:
Marie T. Droogan, RN, MS, CCTC, CCRN;
Marie T. Droogan, RN, MS, CCTC, CCRN
From the Cardiomyopathy and Transplant Center, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Search for other works by this author on:
Linda Ohler, RN, MSN, CCTC, CNS
Linda Ohler, RN, MSN, CCTC, CNS
From the Cardiomyopathy and Transplant Center, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Search for other works by this author on:
AACN Adv Crit Care (1999) 10 (2): 185–201.
Citation
Therm K. Rourke, Marie T. Droogan, Linda Ohler; Heart Transplantation: State of the Art. AACN Adv Crit Care 1 May 1999; 10 (2): 185–201. doi:
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Short-term Access
Purchase short-term access on a pay-per-article or pay-per-issue basis.
$15 72 - hour single article access $30 7 - day full issue access
3
Views