The MUSC Heart Failure and Transplant program currently has the only cardiac transplant program in the state. Since it began in 1987, the MUSC Cardiac Transplant program, consisting of both adult and pediatric programs, has performed over 240 heart transplants resulting in clinical outcomes that exceed the national average. The interdisciplinary cardiac transplant team meets weekly to discuss patients who may benefit from transplantation. Heart transplant selection criteria | Indications:
• Severe end-stage (NYHA class III-IV) heart failure refractory to medical or surgical intervention
• Refractory angina pectoris, heart failure, or low output state requiring inotropic support
• Severe hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Recurrent, symptomatic, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias
• Cardiac tumors with a low likelihood of metastases
• Normal or reversible dysfunction of extra-cardiac organs
• 65 years of age or younger
| Contraindications:
• Severe, irreversible pulmonary hypertension
• Recent pulmonary infarction or undiagnosed pulmonary nodules
• Uncontrolled infection or pre-existing malignancy
• Severe peripheral or cerebral vascular disease
• Severe or poorly controlled psychiatric disease
• Active substance abuse, including cigarette use
• Any chronic systemic illness that will limit post-transplant survival or rehabilitation
• Morbid obesity or malnutrition
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The MUSC Heart Failure and Transplant program, in partnership with the MUSC Heart and Vascular Center, is a leader in heart failure research, offering state of the art technology and new pharmacologic strategies to maximize patient survival, functional health status and quality of life. The clinical trials program gives patients the opportunity to participate in promising new medical therapies. The circulatory support program offers the ABIOMED ventricular support device for temporary support post cardiotomy and the Heartmate pneumatic left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. The LVAD provides circulatory support for the severely debilitated cardiac patient and allows time for the physical rehabilitation of the patient prior to cardiac transplant. According to the most recent available data from the National Vital Statistics Center, more than 41,000 South Carolina residents died from cardiovascular disease between 1994 and 1997. This places South Carolina close to the top in cardiovascular deaths in the country. We believe that many more South Carolinians could benefit from the diverse treatment options available at MUSC, including heart failure disease management and transplantation. The goal of the MUSC Heart Failure and Transplant program, in collaboration with referring physicians, is to educate and inform the residents of South Carolina that now, more than ever, end-stage heart disease can be successfully treated. |
