HEART-TRANSPLANTATION - INITIAL RESULTS IN SCOTLAND

Between 1st Jan 1992 and 1st Sept 1993 164 patients were referred as c andidates for heart transplantation in Scotland. 79 were accepted for transplantation and 39 of these received orthotopic heart transplants. 30 day mortality was zero. Mean time on intensive care post operative ly was 46 35 hrs and mean time to hospital discharge was 1 7.03 days. Cumulative actuarial survival (survival at 18 months post operatively) was 87%. There were three deaths, two from infection at six and 19 we eks and one from neoplasia at 3 7 weeks. Mean time to rejection was 38 .54 days. Linear rejection rates at 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12,12-15 and 15-1 8 months were 1.86, 0.94, 0.6, 0.04, 0 and 0 events per 100 pt-days re spectively. Linear infection rates at 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-15 and 1 5-18 months were 1.81, 0.17, 0.1, 0, 0.05 and 0.18 events per 100 pt-d ays respectively. The heart transplant programme in Scotland has been successful in terms of operative mortality and short to medium term su rvival.