[Experience with orthotopic transplantation of the heart]

The improvement of cardiac transplantation outcomes has resulted, since early eighties, in a considerable annual increment in the number of the operations. Original experience with orthotopic heart transplantation is reported. Eleven transplantations were performed between 31.01.84 and 25.09.86. Two patients died in the early postoperative period, 9 patients were discharged from hospital. Two patients died during the late postoperative period. The 7 surviving patients are in a satisfactory condition. According to reports in the literature, supported by the authors' own experience, heart transplantations in carefully selected cases have become a method of treatment. However, they should only be performed at clinical departments with adequate skills in cardiosurgery and organ transplantation.