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Updated: May 11, 2026

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Heterotopic Cervical Heart Transplantation in Mice
Published on: August 25, 2015
Anesthesia for cardiac transplantation: experience from a single center
F Z Askar1, S Kocabas, T Yagdi
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Transplantation Proceedings
|April 30, 2013
Summary
This study reviews anesthetic management for 175 cardiac transplant patients, detailing perioperative care, drug usage, and outcomes. Key findings highlight the need for expert anesthetic and postoperative care in heart transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Anesthesiology
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Cardiac transplantation is a primary treatment for end-stage heart failure.
- This study analyzes anesthetic management for heart transplant recipients from 1998 to 2012.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical experience and anesthetic management of patients undergoing cardiac transplantation.
- To analyze perioperative anesthetic care elements, including preoperative characteristics, general anesthesia, and blood product usage.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 175 cardiac transplant patients (136 male, 39 female).
- Analysis of preoperative characteristics, general anesthesia techniques, and blood product transfusion data.
- Monitoring of invasive hemodynamic pressures and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography.
Main Results:
- Patients had nonischemic (73%) or ischemic (27%) cardiomyopathy; 73% had prior cardiac surgery.
- Common anesthetic agents included etomidate, fentanyl, sevoflurane/desflurane, and inotropes (dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine).
- Average blood product transfusions: 2.95 units whole blood, 1.29 units FFP, 1.23 units platelets. 38% mortality, with infection and RV failure as primary causes.
Conclusions:
- Anesthesia for cardiac transplantation necessitates understanding heart failure pathophysiology.
- Skillful anesthetic management and comprehensive postoperative care are critical for successful outcomes.
- Invasive monitoring and tailored anesthetic techniques are essential for cardiac transplant patients.

