PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The evolution of scientific advancements that paved the way for clinical cardiac transplantation spans the era of the 20 century, heart transplantation has revolutionized therapy for end-stage heart failure. Demand far exceeds supply, resulting in a long waiting period, and an increasing number of deaths while on a waiting list. The shortage of donors poses dilemmas for allocation of organs and managing the waiting list. RECENT FINDINGS: The disparity between the demand and supply for donor hearts makes cardiac retransplantation an ethical issue with some patients being allowed a second transplant while some patients are dying on the waiting list before receiving their first transplant, especially with overall sub-optimal outcomes compared with primary transplantation. SUMMARY: The cardiac transplant community is mandated to closely monitor the results of cardiac retransplantation to identify the appropriate candidate who should receive a retransplantation.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The evolution of scientific advancements that paved the way for clinical cardiac transplantation spans the era of the 20 century, heart transplantation has revolutionized therapy for end-stage heart failure. Demand far exceeds supply, resulting in a long waiting period, and an increasing number of deaths while on a waiting list. The shortage of donors poses dilemmas for allocation of organs and managing the waiting list. RECENT FINDINGS: The disparity between the demand and supply for donor hearts makes cardiac retransplantation an ethical issue with some patients being allowed a second transplant while some patients are dying on the waiting list before receiving their first transplant, especially with overall sub-optimal outcomes compared with primary transplantation. SUMMARY: The cardiac transplant community is mandated to closely monitor the results of cardiac retransplantation to identify the appropriate candidate who should receive a retransplantation.
Authors: H Haddad; D Isaac; J F Legare; P Pflugfelder; P Hendry; M Chan; B Cantin; N Giannetti; S Zieroth; M White; W Warnica; K Doucette; V Rao; A Dipchand; M Cantarovich; W Kostuk; R Cecere; E Charbonneau; H Ross; N Poirier Journal: Can J Cardiol Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 5.223