[Heart transplant: when the candidate is a child]

G Ital Cardiol (Rome). 2016 Mar;17(3):208-16. doi: 10.1714/2190.23664.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Heart transplant (HT) has been considered as a therapy for pediatric end-stage heart failure (HF) for more than four decades. Children with HF represent a very heterogeneous population, affected by different congenital or acquired heart diseases. Progresses in cardiac surgery and medical therapies, leading to improved prognosis, require periodic re-assessment of indications to HT. Systemic diseases, inherited inborn errors of metabolism, genetic syndromes or associated extra-cardiac malformations can contraindicate HT. In these conditions a tailored evaluation is needed. Pediatric heart disease, which more often may be an indication to HT, as well as prognostic parameters in pediatric HF are discussed.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / complications
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / mortality
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery*
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Heart Failure / mortality
  • Heart Failure / surgery*
  • Heart Transplantation* / methods
  • Humans
  • Pediatrics*
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome