Heart failure is a disease affecting 6.2 million adults in the United States, resulting in morbidity and mortality in the short and long terms. Although options such as mechanical circulatory support and transplantation are considered a solution when medical management is insufficient, heart transplantation (HTX) is regarded as the better option, with a lower incidence of multiorgan failure. A limiting step for HTX is the inadequate donor pool, so options like donation after circulatory death and xenotransplantation have emerged as alternatives. The cardiac anesthesiologist plays a pivotal role in the perioperative management of donors and recipients. A full understanding of the nature of the disease, pathophysiology, and perioperative management is paramount to the success of an HTX program. The authors include an index case to illustrate the multidisciplinary approach to the disease and the implications of managing these complex patients presenting to the operating room.
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