Heart Transplantation Patient Selection

Indications

There are several indications for a heart transplant. About 10-15% of patients currently with heart failure meet requirements for a heart transplant (HT). However, less than half of these obtain a referral for transplant evaluation. Therefore, it is essential to spread awareness of indications for a heart transplant. End-stage heart disease not amenable to other medical or surgical therapy is a class I indication for HT.[2] End-stage heart failure is described as a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 20% and peak oxygen uptake of less than 12 mL/kg 1/min. Cardiogenic shock, which requires either continuous intravenous inotropic support or mechanical circulatory support with an intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation device or LVAD, is also an indication for HT. Other indications include anginal symptoms in the setting of coronary artery disease not amenable to percutaneous or surgical revascularization or medical therapy and lethal arrhythmias resistant to medical therapy, catheter ablation, or implantation of an intracardiac defibrillator.[3]

Contraindications

Eligibility for a heart transplant limited as there are several contraindications to this procedure. Absolute contraindications include a life expectancy under two years despite a heart transplant.[4] Some of the systemic illness that predict a life expectancy of less than two years include: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with frequent opportunistic infections, a significant pulmonary disease usually identified with FEV less than 1 L/min, malignancy within the past five years, a current active systemic illness such as amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, or lupus, irreversible kidney disease, irreversible liver disease, fixed pulmonary hypertension as defined as pulmonary artery systolic pressure greater than 60 mmHg, mean transpulmonary gradient greater than 15 mmHg, or pulmonary vascular resistance greater than 6 Woods units. [5][6]

There are several more relative contraindications. Caution should be used in any patient presenting with any of the following characteristics: extremes in body mass index including morbid obesity and anorexia/cachexia, kidney dysfunction, liver dysfunction including international ratio (INR) > 1.5 off coumadin, bilirubinemia, active peptic ulcer disease, poorly controlled diabetes or hypertension, severe vascular disease including cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease, irreversible neurological disorder, irreversible neuromuscular disorder, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) within 100 days, severe pulmonary disease with FEV1 less than 40% of normal, pulmonary infarct within last 2 months, active mental instability, and substance abuse including drugs, tobacco, or alcohol within the last 6 months.[7] Age greater than 72 is also a known relative contraindication, however, according to literature, this is very controversial. One study showed that patients less than 40 years of age had a 100% rate of long-term survival, and lower occurrence of complications.[8] Another study showed no difference in outcome related to age using a personalized approach.[9]

Personnel

The Heart Failure Team should include:

• Primary cardiologist
• Advanced heart failure specialist
• Advanced heart failure nurse
• Cardiovascular pharmacist
• Cardiac rehabilitation specialist
• Palliative care nurse and specialist
• Clinical psychologist
• Clinical psychiatrist
• Primary care physician

Preparation

The heart transplant (HT) process is complex and time-consuming. Preparing a patient with advanced HF for a heart transplant starts first with identifying the current or future need for a transplant. This is by far the most crucial step in the whole process. Once identified, a speedy referral should be placed to a transplant center. Before the transplant appointment, it is imperative that the patient starts on goal-directed medical therapy (GDMT).[1] Patient ideally should be on GDMT for at least 3-6 months before HT to assess therapeutic response.

At the transplant center, an initial evaluation will be done to assess the severity of HF. Then an assessment for possible reversible factors will be made along with an assessment of the effectiveness of current medical therapy. Specific workup should be done on a patient's with valvular or ischemic heart disease. This subset should undergo an assessment with myocardial viability testing as well as percutaneous transcatheter or surgical valve evaluation. Those with arrhythmias should be treated appropriately. For example, patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation/flutter should be placed on rate controlling agents, and/or rhythm control with medication or cardioversion. Arrhythmia originating from the ventricular chambers should be treated with antiarrhythmic therapy, ablation, and/or implantable defibrillator/pacemaker. Biventricular pacing should be considered for prolonged QRS.[6]

Patients should be instructed to refrain entirely from persistent alcohol intake, illicit drug use, or salt-retaining medications, as well as avoiding NSAIDs.[10] One study found that there is no association between the presence of anxiety and depression and the outcome of heart transplantation. [3] However, many times patients are selected or not selected on this basis. Literature suggests that patients should not be withheld from HT with the presence of mild psychiatric illness. So regardless of the presence of anxiety or depression, if no reversible causes are diagnosed and the patient has been on several months of GDMT in the presence of class IIIB/IV symptoms, then the transplant evaluation process will commence.

If on referral the patient is in cardiogenic shock or on parenteral inotropic agents and cannot be tapered because of hypotension, end-organ dysfunction, or symptoms, then the options for this patient are limited to cardiac transplantation, mechanical device support, or palliative care versus hospice. Evaluation of patients who are not inotrope dependent requires the collection of crucial prognostic factors to estimate patient prognosis and need for transplant listing. Also, one study found that there is no association between the presence of anxiety and depression and the outcome of heart transplantation. [3] However, many times patients are selected or not selected on this basis. 

Clinical Significance

Heart transplantation can prolong survival for up to 10 years or more.[2] Having such a positive impact on survival makes the patient selection process for a heart transplant an important focus in today heart failure talks. Understanding the patient selection criteria for a heart transplant is crucial to clinical decision-making and making sure all patients indicated for HT are captured and referred appropriately. It is imperative that physicians treating HF (cardiologist and primary care)  to be able to recognize when a heart transplant is needed. Early identification is the key to a successful and speedy heart transplant evaluation and list placement.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

An interprofessional team that provides a patient-centered, integrated approach to evaluate patient's for a heart transplant is essential to achieve the best possible outcomes. Furthermore, several studies have shown that the outcome of heart transplantation depends on several other factors outside of meeting clinical criteria such as demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors. It is imperative to have an interprofessional team including a cardiologist, thoracic surgeon, anesthetist, clinical psychologist and psychiatrist, pharmacists, and specialty trained nurses.[11] [level 1] In particular, the nurses should assist the team with patient selection, education and monitoring; the clinicians should provide direct care and evaluation for the procedure; the pharmacist should assist in avoiding dangerous drug-drug interactions that may affect the outcome of the procedure; and the behavioralist should assist with helping the patient and family to cope with a challenging procedure fraut with potential complications and delays. [Level 5]