Clinical outcomes following heart transplantation.

Abstract

Since its first performance in 1967, cardiac transplantation has emerged from a medical curiosity to become the treatment of choice for advanced heart failure. Refinements in surgical technique, development of a standardized endomyocardial biopsy grading system, and the discovery of newer immunosuppressive medications have improved the outlook for today's heart-transplant recipients. For the most recent era, median survival has increased to 10 years and median survival conditional upon surviving the first transplant year is now >14 years. Quality of life is excellent. This article will concisely review the major clinical outcomes following transplantation including survival, quality of life, immunosuppression, and short- and long-term complications.