Cardiac Transplantation
Surgical replacement of a failing heart with a healthy donor heart, representing the final treatment option for end-stage congenital heart disease.
Full Definition
Cardiac transplantation is the definitive treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure when other medical and surgical options have been exhausted. In congenital cardiology, transplantation is considered for patients with complex anatomy unsuitable for further reconstruction, failed Fontan circulation, or progressive ventricular dysfunction. The procedure involves careful donor-recipient matching, immunosuppressive therapy, and lifelong monitoring for rejection, infection, and malignancy. Outcomes in pediatric patients are generally favorable, with many recipients achieving normal quality of life.
Usage
Usage note: May be abbreviated as OHT (orthotopic heart transplant) in some clinical contexts.
In Context
- "The patient was evaluated for cardiac transplantation following deterioration of his Fontan circulation." — Transplant evaluation report
- "Post-cardiac transplantation surveillance included routine endomyocardial biopsies to monitor for rejection." — Follow-up clinic note