Heart and heart-lung transplantation Papworth Hospital 1979 to 1987
English, T.A.; Wallwork, J.
Clinical Transplants 1987: 13-16
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0890-9016 PMID: 3154381 Document Number: 298185
The quality of life for those who survive the first 3 months after transplantation is generally good. The duration of hospital stay and the cost of transplantation per patient have been reduced during the last 3 years. Cardiologists are coming to appreciate the therapeutic potential of both heart and heart-lung transplantation and one of the chief logistic problems faced is that of increasing the provision of transplant services to match the increasing demand. Ultimately this will be donor-limited but at present in the United Kingdom the main limitation to the expansion of services is restriction of funding and resources. (The allocation for heart transplantation from the DHSS for the financial year 1987/88 is 4.3 million pounds). The broad principles of management of heart and heart-lung recipients have been established. Further improvement in medium-term results can be anticipated as a result of reducing CsA-induced nephrotoxicity and hypertension as a result of triple therapy and adjusting the components of that therapy to the individual needs of particular patients. Heart transplantation has now taken its place as an established therapy for life-threatening heart disease. Heart-lung transplantation is still going through its developmental phase with acceptable short-term results, but with much to learn in the mid- and long-term following transplantation.