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Published on: August 25, 2015
Heart transplantation at the Heart Center North Rhine-Westfalia
G Tenderich1, A Zittermann, U Schulz
1Heart Center North Rhine-Westphalia, University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
Insights
The Heart Center North Rhine-Westfalia has extensive experience in cardiac transplantation, performing over 1,600 procedures since 1989. They manage a large volume of heart failure and transplant patients, utilizing advanced technologies like the Organ Care System.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Medical Technology
Background:
- The Heart Center North Rhine-Westfalia has a long-standing cardiac transplantation program established in 1989.
- The center manages a significant patient population, including 800 cardiac transplant recipients and 1,700 heart failure patients annually.
- Extensive experience includes over 300 ventricular assist device implantations and 10,800 patient-years of observation in cardiac transplant recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the comprehensive cardiac transplantation services and extensive clinical experience at the Heart Center North Rhine-Westfalia.
- To showcase the center's pioneering use of innovative technologies, such as the Organ Care System.
- To emphasize the individualized postoperative care strategies for cardiac transplant recipients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of cardiac transplantation data since 1989.
- Description of patient management protocols for heart failure and transplant recipients.
- Inclusion of data on the use of ventricular assist devices and the Organ Care System.
Main Results:
- Over 1,500 adult and 100 pediatric cardiac transplantations performed.
- World's first donor heart transplantation using the Organ Care System in 2006.
- 31 cardiac retransplantations conducted since program inception.
Conclusions:
- The Heart Center North Rhine-Westfalia possesses substantial expertise in cardiac transplantation, managing complex cases and high patient volumes.
- The center is at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies to improve organ preservation and transplantation outcomes.
- Individualized patient care, including tailored immunosuppression and monitoring, is a key component of their successful transplant program.
Abstract:
At the Heart Center North Rhine-Westfalia, Germany, more than 1,500 adult cardiac transplantations and more than 100 pediatric cardiac transplantations have been performed since the transplant program was initiated in 1989. Each year, we take care of 800 cardiac transplant recipients and 1,700 patients with heart failure who are in a long-term program for cardiac transplantation or on the Eurotransplant waiting list for cardiac transplantation. We have experience with ventricular assist device implantation as bridge to transplant in more than 300 patients. In total, our clinical know-how with cardiac transplant recipients is based on 10,800 patient-years of observation. In 2006, we transplanted the first donor heart worldwide with the Organ Care System, a technology capable of maintaining human organs in a functioning state ex-vivo. Usually, our transplant recipients have more preoperative risk factors than cardiac transplant recipients at other German heart centers. Our postoperative patient care is individualized with respect to immunosuppression and the performance of myocardial biopsies and coronary angiography. Since 1989, we have performed 31 cardiac retransplantations.
