Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
Rat Heterotopic Abdominal Heart/Single-lung Transplantation in a Volume-loaded Configuration
Published on: May 29, 2015
Cognitive function and behavioural status in paediatric heart and heart-lung transplant recipients: the Harefield
J Wray1, C Pot-Mees, H Zeitlin
1Cardiothoracic Unit, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex.
Insights
Pediatric heart or heart-lung transplant recipients showed some developmental and cognitive delays, though scores remained within normal limits. Behavioral issues were similar between groups, but problem behaviors at home were more common in transplant patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Transplant Medicine
- Child Development
Background:
- Cardiac and cardiopulmonary transplantation are life-saving procedures for children.
- Understanding the long-term psychological effects is crucial for patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the psychological impact of cardiac and cardiopulmonary transplantation on children.
- Evaluate developmental, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in pediatric transplant recipients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study involving 65 pediatric heart/heart-lung transplant recipients.
- Comparison with 52 children undergoing other cardiac surgery and 45 healthy controls.
- Utilized validated measures for development, cognition, and behavior at home and school.
Main Results:
- Transplant recipients scored lower on several developmental and cognitive measures, especially those under 4.5 years.
- All performance scores were within the normal range.
- No significant behavioral differences between groups, but increased problem behaviors at home observed in transplant group.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric cardiac and cardiopulmonary transplantation can have adverse psychological effects, despite normal cognitive development.
- Highlights the need for prospective studies and tailored interventions for pediatric transplant patients and families.
- Emphasizes the importance of ongoing psychological support post-transplantation.
Objective:
To assess the psychological impact of cardiac and cardiopulmonary transplantation on children.
Design:
Retrospective cross sectional study.
Setting:
One British centre performing paediatric heart and heart-lung transplant operations, four cardiac units in London, three London schools, two London health centres, and the dental department of a London children's hospital.
Subjects:
65 children who had been given heart or heart-lung transplants and two reference groups of 52 children who had had other types of cardiac surgery and 45 healthy children.
Main Outcome Measures:
Development, cognition, and behaviour at home and at school as assessed by measures with proved validity and reliability.
Results:
Developmental and cognitive measures indicated that children given transplants had significantly lower scores on several parameters, particularly in terms of development in children under 4 1/2 years of age. Performance on all tests, however, was within the normal range. There were no significant differences in behavioural ratings between the transplant and reference groups, though problem behaviour at home was more prevalent in the transplant group.
Conclusions:
Though cognitive development may be within the normal range, there are adverse psychological effects associated with cardiac and cardiopulmonary transplantation. These data indicate the need for a controlled prospective study in which children and their families are seen before and at regular intervals after transplantation. Interventions should be developed that are tailored to the particular needs of this very specialised group of paediatric patients and their families.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management