Determinants of right ventricular failure after heart transplantation

Predictive factors of right ventricular failure after heart transplantation are not well identified. Clinical and hemodynamic data from 20 patients who developed right heart failure were compared to those of 20 matched patients who did not experience this complication after cardiac transplantation. Preoperative systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics were comparable in the two groups. Patients with posttransplant right ventricular failure had longer waiting time (27 +/- 6 vs 16 +/- 3 weeks, mean +/- SE, P < 0.05), no regression of pulmonary hypertension (0 +/- 0.1 vs 2.3 +/- 0.3 Wood units reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance after transplantation, P < 0.01), and had been ventilated with higher levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (5 +/- 1 vs 1.5 +/- 0.5 cm H2O, P < 0.05). One-month postoperative evolution (mortality, hospital stay, radionuclide ejection fractions) was similar in the two groups. These results suggest that a lesser reversibility of pulmonary hypertension (possibly due to a longer evolution of the cardiac disease, as indicated by the longer waiting time) is the main determinant of right ventricular failure after heart transplantation.