Heart Transplantation-Postoperative Considerations

Abstract

Heart transplantation (HT) remains the best treatment of patients with severe heart failure who are deemed to be transplant candidates. The authors discuss postoperative management of the HT recipient by system, emphasizing areas where care might differ from other cardiac surgery patients. Working together, critical care physicians, heart transplant surgeons and cardiologists, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, transplant coordinators, nursing staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists, nutritionists, health psychologists, social workers, and the patient and their loved ones partner to increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Keywords: Denervated heart; Heart transplantation; Immunosuppression; Multidisciplinary care; Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome; Primary graft dysfunction; Renal replacement therapy; Right heart failure.