Indications for heart transplantation

Heart transplantation may have a considerable impact on the fate of the patient in the end stage of heart failure. A successful procedure requires the existence of a sophisticated programme combining the expertise of top departments of cardiology and cardiac surgery working in conjunction with the transplant centre directly responsible for removing the organ. One of the factors playing an important role in a favourable outcome is the correct indication for the procedure. The information on patient selection and criteria for the heart donor, presented in this paper, become increasingly important even for the practitioner in cardiology referring their patients to specialized departments. The paper also offers background information on the heart transplant programme in the Czech Republic suggesting the need for expanding the availability of the therapeutic method in this country.