Cardiac and lung transplantation

Pulmonary hypertension and right heart dysfunction commonly accompanies advanced left sided cardiac failure, and has important implications for prognosis and management. A consistent, stepwise approach to the interpretation and modulation of hemodynamics is necessary in order to optimize decision making and outcome in patients being considered for cardiac transplantation. For patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who are being considered for lung or heart-lung transplantation, multiple critical factors relating to timing of transplantation, optimal perioperative management, and the particular lung allocation scheme in a given country, must be carefully considered in order to optimize outcome for these patients.