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The first 20 years of heart transplantation in Ireland
D G Healy1, M T Akbar, N Baktiari
1Irish Heart & Lung Transplant Programme, Prof Eoin O'Malley National Centre For Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin. cardiothoracic@eircom.net
Background:
The first Irish heart transplant was performed on the 10th of September 1985. Over the next 20 years, 229 transplants were performed in 228 recipients.
Aims:
To evaluate the success of the first generation of cardiac transplantation in Ireland.
Methods:
Analysis of clinical outcomes and survival statistics for patients undergoing heart transplantation in Ireland and comparison with international standards.
Results:
There has been a steady improvement in transplant outcome over this time and survival figures for recipients between 2000 and 2004 show a hospital, 1-year and 5-year survival rate of 85.7%, 84.1% and 76.8% respectively. Thirty-eight of the 99 heart transplants performed between 1985 and 1994 are still alive more than 10 years later and the longest survivor is now 19 years post transplantation.
Conclusions:
The results compare favourably with international figures. Heart transplantation offers excellent longterm survival and quality of life but remains challenged by a shortage of suitable donor organs.
