Selection and evaluation of patients for cardiac transplantation

Cardiac transplantation is now a well-accepted therapy for patients with ad vanced heart failure. In appropriately selected recipients, it has shown to significantly improve the survival and quality of life. The shortage of ap propiate cardiac donor hearts, the costs of cardiac transplantation and its associated long-term medical follow-up, and the potential morbidity and mo rtality associated with the procedure and with life after transplantation m andates the judicious application of cardiac transplantation to appropiate recipients. A review of current indications, contraindications and evaluati on of patients for cardiac transplantation is presented.