Outcomes following cardiac transplantation in adults

For a carefully selected group of patients with advanced heart failure where prognosis and quality of life remain poor, cardiac transplantation is the treatment of choice. Long-term survival and quality of life are now excellent in most patients post-transplantation, but important short- and long-term complications remain a significant concern. The mainstay of early and longer term post-transplant care is the surveillance for and treatment of these complications. This review article provides an overview of the contemporary outcomes after heart transplant, the more commonly encountered problems and their management in the early and late stages.