Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Stephen Clark
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Patients with advanced heart failure have a dismal prognosis and poor quality of life. Heart transplantation provides an effective treatment for a subset of these patients. This article provides cardiologists with up-to-date information about referral for transplantation, the role of left ventricular assist devices prior to transplant, patient selection, waiting-list management and donor heart availability. Timing is of central importance; patients should be referred before complications (eg, cardiorenal syndrome or secondary pulmonary hypertension) have developed that will increase the risk of, or potentially contraindicate, transplantation. Issues related to heart failure aetiology, comorbidity and adherence to medical treatment are reviewed. Finally, the positive role that cardiologists can play in promoting and facilitating organ donation is discussed.
Author(s): Banner NR, Bonser RS, Clark AL, Clark S, Cowburn PJ, Gardner RS, Kalra PR, McDonagh T, Rogers CA, Swan L, Parameshwar J, Thomas HL, Williams SG
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Heart
Year: 2011
Volume: 97
Issue: 18
Pages: 1520-1527
Print publication date: 16/06/2011
ISSN (print): 1355-6037
ISSN (electronic): 1468-201X
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2011-300048
DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2011-300048
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric