This is a concise review of up-to-date concepts and techniques in the discipline of heart transplantation. It is a review and reference for practitioners managing patients with advanced heart disease, including patients with end-stage heart failure, mechanical circulatory support or transplant recipients. Heart failure is a major public health issue, with a prevalence of over 5.8 million in the USA, and over 23 million worldwide, and rising. The lifetime risk of developing heart failure is one in five. Heart failure carries substantial morbidity and mortality, with 5-year mortality that rival those of many cancers. As heart transplantation remains the best treatment option for patients with end stage heart failure, this primer will provide valuable information and management strategies for physicians caring for these patients. Also, due to continued shortage in donor organs, heart transplantation is a limited resource which further underscores the importance of appropriately evaluating patients for transplant candidacy and managing their pre, peri- and post-transplant care for maximum benefit and best outcomes.

Table of contents (18 chapters)
Medical and Device Options for Patients with End-Stage Heart Failure
Hamilton, Michele (et al.)
Pages 1-9
Mechanical and Surgical Options for Patients with End-Stage Heart Failure
Moriguchi, Jaime
Pages 11-19
Evaluation for Heart Transplant Candidacy
Kobashigawa, Jon (et al.)
Pages 21-35
Listing, Donor Allocation and Optimization of the Pre-transplant Patient
Kittleson, Michelle (et al.)
Pages 37-45
Overview of Transplantation Immunobiology
Zhang, Xiaohai (et al.)
Pages 47-56
The Sensitized Patient Awaiting Heart Transplantation
Patel, Jignesh (et al.)
Pages 57-71
Donor Organ Preservation and Surgical Considerations in Heart Transplantation
Esmailian, Fardad (et al.)
Pages 73-80
Physiology of the Transplanted Heart
Kobashigawa, Jon (et al.)
Pages 81-93
Immediate Post-operative Management After Heart Transplantation
Kobashigawa, Jon (et al.)
Pages 95-108
Immunosuppression Strategies in Heart Transplantation
Kobashigawa, Jon (et al.)
Pages 109-135
Managing Infections in Cardiac Transplantation
Zakowski, Phillip
Pages 137-156
Cardiac Allograft Rejection, Surveillance and Treatment
Chang, David (et al.)
Pages 157-170
Outpatient Management and Long-Term Complications in Heart Transplantation
Chang, David (et al.)
Pages 171-183
Quality of Life After Heart Transplantation
Kobashigawa, Jon (et al.)
Pages 185-191
Pediatric Heart Transplantation: Special Considerations
Kobashigawa, Jon (et al.)
Pages 193-211
Combined Heart and Other Organ Transplant
Kobashigawa, Jon (et al.)
Pages 213-225
The Total Artificial Heart
Arabia, Francisco
Pages 227-236
The Future of Heart Transplantation
Kobashigawa, Jon