Intraoperative and Early Postoperative Management of Heart Transplantation: Anesthetic Implications

The gold standard treatment for end-stage heart failure, with 50% mortality within 5 years of diagnosis, is considered heart transplantation. Despite the improvements in immunosuppression, the period of highest mortality risk in the heart transplantation population is during the first year post-transplantation, with primary graft dysfunction being the leading cause of mortality. After adequate preoperative assessment of the recipient, including patients on mechanical support, the intraoperative care of heart transplantation patients requires extensive monitoring followed by proficient management of anesthesia induction and maintenance, ventilation, and fluid therapy.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Review Article Source Type: research