301.1 ð é«åžçç
301.1.0.1 ð äžé éé»
301.1.0.1.1 Indications + Contraindications
301.1.0.1.1.1 Indications for Heart Transplantation
- Stage D HF (refractory):
- NYHA III-IV despite optimal medical therapy
- Recurrent hospitalizations
- EF < 25% in selected
- Life-threatening arrhythmias
- Persistent cardiogenic shock despite MCS bridge
- Congenital heart disease with severe biventricular failure
- Refractory angina not amenable to revascularization
- HFpEF with severe symptoms (less common)
- Pulmonary hypertension + CHD (heart-lung transplant)
301.1.0.1.1.2 Contraindications
- Active malignancy (within 5 yr, depending on type/stage)
- Active infection (untreated)
- Severe fixed pulmonary HTN (PVR > 4-5 WU non-responsive to vasodilator)
- Severe end-organ damage (CKD ESRD without renal transplant plan, severe liver, etc.)
- Active substance abuse (within 6 months)
- Psychosocial issues (non-adherence, lack of support)
- Morbid obesity (BMI > 35-40 typically)
- Severe peripheral / cerebrovascular disease
- Advanced age (relative; case-by-case in 70+)
- Diabetes with severe end-organ damage
- HIV with poor viral control (advancing in HIV-naive patients)
301.1.0.1.2 Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS)
301.1.0.1.2.1 Temporary MCS
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) - For acute decompensation - Diastolic counterpulsation â coronary perfusion â - â Afterload - Less aggressive support - IABP-SHOCK II trial â no mortality benefit in routine STEMI cardiogenic shock - Bridge in select cases (mechanical complications, refractory angina)
Impella (Axial Flow Pump) - Microaxial pump in LV - Models: 2.5 (2.5 L/min), CP (3.5 L/min), 5.0 (5.0 L/min), 5.5 (5.5 L/min) - For acute MI cardiogenic shock, high-risk PCI, refractory shock - DanGER-SHOCK 2024: benefits in select shock - Hemolysis, vascular complications, limb ischemia
Tandem Heart (Centrifugal LVAD) - LA â femoral vein â centrifugal pump â femoral artery - Higher flow than Impella 2.5/CP
VA-ECMO (extracorporeal) - Heart + lung support - Configurations: peripheral (femoral) or central - Indications: cardiac arrest (E-CPR), severe cardiogenic shock, refractory - Complications: limb ischemia, stroke, bleeding, hemolysis - ECPELLA: VA-ECMO + Impella (LV decompression)
Right Ventricular Support - ProTek Duo (RV â PA) - Used for RV failure post-LVAD or other
301.1.0.1.2.2 Durable MCS (LVAD)
HeartMate 3 (Modern LVAD) - Magnetically levitated centrifugal flow pump - No mechanical bearings â less thrombosis, less hemolysis - MOMENTUM 3 (2017, 2024 long-term): changed LVAD outcomes - 5-year survival ~ 75% (similar to transplant for select) - Continuous flow (no pulse) - Driveline through abdominal wall - Battery + controller
Indications for LVAD - Bridge to transplant (BTT): listed candidates waiting - Bridge to candidacy (BTC): not yet listed; may improve to listing - Destination therapy (DT): not transplant candidate; lifelong device - Bridge to recovery (BTR): rare, possible in select (myocarditis, peripartum)
LVAD Complications - Bleeding (GI, intracranial, surgical) â top complication - Stroke â ~ 10-15% over 5 years (less with HM3) - Pump thrombosis â less with HM3 - Driveline infection â common, lifelong risk - Right ventricular failure â post-implant - Aortic insufficiency â develops over time - Arrhythmia â VT/VF (mostly tolerated due to LVAD bridging)
Quality of Life - â Functional capacity - â Hospitalizations - Battery management, driveline care lifelong - Restrictions: no full submersion, careful contact sports
301.1.0.1.3 The Cardiac Transplant Process
301.1.0.1.3.1 Pre-Transplant Evaluation
- Comprehensive medical history + physical
- CV: echo, RHC, stress test, exercise capacity
- Renal, hepatic, pulmonary, neuro
- Cancer screening
- Infectious workup (HIV, HepB/C, CMV, EBV, VZV, etc.)
- Psychosocial + adherence
- Pulmonary HTN reversibility (vasodilator response)
- HLA testing
- Frailty assessment
301.1.0.1.3.2 Listing
- UNOS listing
- Status determined by clinical state
- Wait time variable (weeks to years)
- Geographic variability
301.1.0.1.3.3 Donor Selection
- Brain-dead donor
- Donor heart matched: blood type, size, age, sex (relative)
- Ischemic time < 4-6 hours optimal
- Modern: ex-vivo perfusion (OCS Heart) for longer preservation
301.1.0.1.4 Post-Transplant Care
301.1.0.1.4.1 Immunosuppression
Induction: - ATG (anti-thymocyte globulin) - IL-2 receptor antagonist (basiliximab, daclizumab) - High-dose steroids
Maintenance: - Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI): - Tacrolimus (preferred, target trough 10-15 ng/mL early, 5-10 chronic) - Cyclosporine - Antiproliferative: - Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) preferred - Azathioprine - Corticosteroids: prednisone (tapered over months) - mTOR inhibitor (sirolimus, everolimus): for CAV, malignancy reduction; not first-line
301.1.0.1.4.2 Rejection Surveillance
- Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) routinely
- Weekly initially, then less frequent
- Lake Louise CMR for non-invasive monitoring
- Non-invasive markers: cell-free DNA, gene expression profiling (AlloMap)
- AlloMap (gene expression profiling): peripheral blood; for low-risk patients
- Donor-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA): emerging marker
- Treatment: increase immunosuppression, plasmapheresis for antibody-mediated rejection
301.1.0.1.4.3 Acute Rejection Types
- Acute cellular rejection (ACR): T-cell mediated, mild-moderate-severe (ISHLT grade 1R-3R)
- Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR): anti-HLA antibodies, plasmapheresis + IVIG + rituximab
- Hyperacute rejection: pre-formed antibodies (rare with crossmatch screening)
301.1.0.1.4.4 Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy (CAV)
- Top cause of late mortality post-transplant
- Diffuse intimal hyperplasia + atherosclerosis
- Often silent (denervated heart, no angina)
- Diagnosis: annual coronary angiography + IVUS
- Risk factors: rejection, CMV, dyslipidemia, IS effects, donor characteristics
- Treatment: statins (aggressive), ASA, optimize CV risk factors
- mTOR inhibitor (sirolimus, everolimus) for slowing CAV
- Severe CAV: re-transplantation
301.1.0.1.4.5 Complications + Long-Term Issues
Cardiovascular: - CAV - HTN (from CNI, steroids) - Hyperlipidemia - Diabetes mellitus - Arrhythmias
Infectious: - CMV, EBV, HSV, VZV, PJP (Pneumocystis), aspergillus, candida, BK virus - Prophylaxis: valganciclovir (CMV), TMP-SMX (PJP), antifungals as needed
Malignancy: - Skin cancer (most common): UV protection, surveillance - Lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD): EBV-driven - Solid organ cancers: lung, GI, prostate increased
Renal Dysfunction: - CNI nephrotoxicity - Hypertension - DM - Combined: 25-30% develop ESRD over years
Bone Loss: - Steroids - Osteoporosis surveillance - Bisphosphonates
Mental Health: - Depression, anxiety - Counseling, SSRIs as needed
301.1.0.1.6 Heart-Lung Transplant
301.1.0.1.7 Future Directions
301.1.0.1.7.1 Xenotransplantation
- Genetically modified pig hearts
- First human implant 2022 (David Bennett, University of Maryland) â 2 months survival
- Second 2023, similar challenges
- Lawrence Faucette 2023 â 40 days
- Hyperacute rejection challenge
- Multiple gene-edited (10+ genes) pigs in development
301.1.0.1.7.2 iPS-Derived Cardiomyocytes
- Induced pluripotent stem cells â cardiomyocyte
- For myocardial regeneration
- BIOSTAR-CMS, others
- Early trials
301.1.0.1.7.3 CRISPR / Gene Therapy
- For genetic cardiomyopathies (HCM, DCM)
- HCM: gene editing to correct sarcomere mutations
- Long way to clinical
301.1.0.2 𩺠åºé鿥
- Transplant indications: refractory HF NYHA III-IV + EF < 25% + optimal medical therapy
- Contraindications: active malignancy, severe fixed PH, substance abuse, severe comorbidities
- MCS hierarchy: IABP â Impella â Tandem Heart â VA-ECMO â LVAD (durable)
- HeartMate 3 (MOMENTUM 3): modern LVAD, 5-yr survival ~ 75%, less thrombosis
- Immunosuppression: induction (ATG / basiliximab) + maintenance (tacrolimus + MMF + steroid)
- CAV: top cause of late mortality; annual angiography; mTOR inhibitor for slowing
- EMB: gold standard for rejection; AlloMap + cfDNA non-invasive
- Future: xenotransplantation, iPS cardiomyocytes