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Pediatric heart transplantation: quality of life
1Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Insights
Pediatric heart transplant recipients can adapt to life after surgery, returning to age-appropriate functioning. However, long-term benefits of this extensive treatment require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pediatric Psychology
- Quality of Life Research
Background:
- Pediatric heart transplantation has become an established therapeutic option.
- Assessing the quality of life for pediatric heart transplant survivors is crucial.
- Understanding post-transplant adaptation is essential for long-term patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychosocial adjustment and functional status of pediatric heart transplant survivors.
- To compare the post-transplant quality of life with preoperative status.
- To explore the long-term sustainability of benefits following pediatric heart transplantation.
Main Methods:
- Psychosocial evaluation using standardized instruments (Personality Inventory for Children, Offer Self-Image Questionnaire, Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory) and projective drawings.
- Assessment of daily routines and school achievement through parental interviews.
- Measurement of cardiovascular function via exercise testing.
Main Results:
- Surviving pediatric heart transplant patients demonstrated adaptation to the physical and emotional demands of the procedure.
- Children returned to age-appropriate levels of functioning post-transplantation.
- Comparisons with preoperative status indicated positive adaptation where possible.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric heart transplantation allows children to achieve a functional level suitable for their age.
- The long-term sustainability of the benefits of pediatric heart transplantation warrants further study.
- While adaptation is evident, the overall value of extensive treatment requires ongoing evaluation.
Abstract:
Staff members at the University of Pittsburgh have performed pediatric heart transplantations since 1982. As heart transplantation becomes an accepted therapeutic treatment, more children undergo surgery and return home. Assessment of the quality of life after transplantation of these children is essential. This article describes the life-styles of seven surviving transplant patients. The children lived for periods ranging from 3 months to 3 years. Patients were evaluated psychosocially by the Personality Inventory for Children, Offer Self-Image Questionnaire, Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, and projective drawings. Daily routines and school achievement were assessed by interviews with the parents. Cardiovascular function was measured by exercise testing. When possible, comparisons were made with the patient's preoperative status. Heart transplantation assaults the body, both physically and emotionally. This study concludes that the surviving children can adapt to the experience. Heart transplantation enables them to return to a level of functioning that is appropriate for age. However, speculation is made whether the benefits gained for a child who undergoes transplantation can be sustained long enough to warrant such extensive treatment.