Pediatric heart transplantation: a clinical overview

In 1984 "Baby Fae" was the first infant to receive a heart transplant from a baboon. Though she only lived 20 days, her legacy began the movement to advance pediatric heart transplantation so that children with lethal heart disease could live to experience childhood. Sixteen years later more than 4,500 pediatric heart transplants have been performed in children ages 0 to 18. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation reports a 79% survival at 1 year. 70% survival at 2 years. and 67% at 5 years for all ages and diagnoses. This article provides an overview of pediatric heart transplantation.