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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
A Modified Method for Heterotopic Mouse Heart Transplantion
Published on: June 24, 2014
Combined transplantation of the heart, lung, and liver
Insights
Combined heart-lung-liver transplants offer a feasible option for select patients with end-stage respiratory and liver failure. This procedure shows comparable 5-year survival to heart-lung transplants with reduced rejection rates.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sciences
- Transplantation Surgery
- Cardiopulmonary and Hepatic Medicine
Background:
- Combined heart-lung-liver transplantation is considered for patients with end-stage respiratory failure and advanced liver disease, or vice versa.
- A retrospective review analyzed outcomes for nine patients undergoing this complex procedure between 1986 and 1999.
Discussion:
- The study evaluates the feasibility and survival rates of combined heart-lung-liver transplantation.
- Comparison is made with established heart-lung transplantation outcomes, focusing on survival and rejection incidence.
Key Insights:
- The 1-year and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 56% and 42%, respectively.
- Combined heart-lung-liver transplantation demonstrated a 5-year survival rate similar to heart-lung transplantation.
- A notable finding was a lower incidence of both acute and chronic rejection compared to heart-lung transplantation.
Outlook:
- Combined heart-lung-liver transplantation represents a viable, albeit limited, therapeutic option for highly selected patients.
- Further research may explore strategies to optimize outcomes and expand indications for this multi-organ transplant approach.
Abstract:
Combined transplantation of the heart, lung, and liver may be indicated in patients with either end-stage respiratory failure complicated by advanced liver disease or end-stage liver failure complicated by advanced lung disease. A retrospective review of nine patients who underwent combined heart-lung-liver transplantation in Cambridge (1986-99) was carried out. The 1-year and 5-year actuarial survival was 56% and 42%, respectively. Combined heart-lung-liver transplantation is a feasible option for a few patients and has a 5-year survival similar to heart-lung transplantation but with a lower incidence of acute and chronic rejection.
