[Elements for an analysis of psychosocial indicators and psychological intervention in heart transplantation]

It is now accepted that cardiac transplantation is a viable therapeutic alternative for patients with end-stage heart disease. The most recent data offer a favourable short and medium term prognosis. Retrospective studies suggest that transplantation is associated with a good quality of life and tolerance of the side effects of the medication. Even if cardiac transplantation does not appear to be associated with serious psychological morbidity, it is important to assess the recipient's anxiety, depression, body image and his subjective quality of life, including satisfaction with his family and marital life, to prevent postoperative psychologic distress and enhance the patient's coping abilities. The family is the patient's chief buffer against stress but it is also under stress and needs to be aided through this process. The psychosocial themes that appear prominently at the different stages of the transplant process are somewhat predictable. These can be used to help the patient and family anticipate stress and deal with these issues in a way that enhances mastery of a difficult situation. The heart transplant team faces difficult ethical issues regarding patient selection and informed consent. Public input on these issues is needed, especially since more patients elect to receive heart transplants and the donor supply is likely to remain the same, thereby making donor hearts less available to those who could derive benefit from them.