SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM OUTCOME WITH PROLONGED ISCHEMIC TIME CARDIAC ALLOGRAFTS

Background: The limited availability of cardiac allografts together wi th the increasing number of patients on the waiting list restricts tre atment of this population with heart transplantation. An increase in t he available donor pool has been facilitated by the use of allografts with prolonged ischemic time (> 240 minutes). Methods: Short- and long -term outcomes were compared in 150 heart transplant recipients on the basis of allograft ischemic time (<241 minutes, 241 to 300 minutes, a nd >300 minutes). Results: No difference was found in allograft functi on, functional capacity, the development of transplant-associated coro nary disease, or actuarial survival in the short and long term. Conclu sions: Improved population treatment with prolonged ischemic time card iac allografts can be safely undertaken without long-term risk to hear t transplant recipients.