Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
A Pre-Clinical Porcine Model of Orthotopic Heart Transplantation
Published on: April 27, 2019
Outpatient follow-up during the first year after heart transplantation, is it feasible?
Ana Ayesta1, Iago Sousa-Casasnovas1, Edwin Gómez1
1Cardiology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiGM), C/Dr. Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Outpatient follow-up after heart transplantation is feasible and safe. This strategy reduces hospital stay without increasing risks of infection, rejection, or mortality, making it a viable alternative to inpatient care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Clinical Outcomes Research
Background:
- First-year heart transplant follow-up traditionally involves hospitalization for invasive tests.
- Ambulatory invasive procedures offer a potential shift towards outpatient follow-up.
- The feasibility and safety of this outpatient strategy remain largely unestablished.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and safety of outpatient follow-up in the first year post-heart transplantation.
- To compare clinical outcomes between inpatient and outpatient follow-up strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of heart transplant recipients from 2000-2014.
- Comparison of an inpatient follow-up group (2000-2006) with an outpatient follow-up group (2007-2014).
- Evaluation of basal characteristics, hospital stay, infections, rejection episodes, and vascular complications.
Main Results:
- Outpatient follow-up (OF) involved 98 patients; inpatient follow-up (IF) involved 87 patients.
- OF patients had significantly lower hospital stays (3 days vs. 23 days) and more clinical visits (13 vs. 10).
- Rates of infection, rejection, vascular complications, and 1-year mortality were similar between IF and OF groups.
Conclusions:
- First-year outpatient follow-up after heart transplantation appears feasible and safe.
- This approach demonstrates comparable safety regarding infection, rejection, vascular complications, and mortality.
- Outpatient follow-up offers a reduced hospital stay without compromising patient outcomes.
Introduction:
First year follow-up after heart transplantation requires invasive tests. Although patients used to be hospitalized for this purpose, ambulatory invasive procedures now offer the possibility of outpatient follow-up. The feasibility and security of this strategy is unknown.
Methods:
From 2007 we transitioned to outpatient follow-up. We have retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of the outpatient group (2007 to 2014) and an inpatient group (2000-2006). Basal characteristics, hospital stay, infections, rejection episodes and vascular complications were evaluated.
Results:
87 patients had Inpatient Follow-up (IF) and 98 Outpatient Follow-up (OF). Basal characteristics were similar, with significant differences in immunosuppression (tacrolimus IF 44.8% vs. OF 90.8%, and mycophenolate IF 86.2% vs OF 100%, both p values <0.001) and age (IF 52±11.5years vs. OF 56.1±11years, p=0.016). In the OF group more clinical visits were performed (IF 10 vs. OF 13, p<0.001) while hospital stay was lower (IF 23days vs. OF 3days, p<0.001). The rate of infection, rejection, and vascular complications was similar. No difference was found in 1-year mortality (IF 2.3% vs. 1.0%, p=0.60).
Conclusion:
First year post-cardiac transplantation outpatient follow-up seems to be feasible and safe in terms of infection, rejection, vascular complications and mortality.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction