188. Die heterotope Herztransplantation

Summary Although orthotopic heart transplantation is possible only in patients with normal or slightly increased pulmonary vascular resistance, the technique of heterotopic cardiac transplantation devised by Barnard has hardly been applied outside Cape Town. Prosthetic valves and continuing angina are contraindications to this procedure, which is a little more difficult in comparison to orthotopic graftic as far as surgical technique and postoperative follow-up is concerned. Furthermore, this technique is associated with a certain risk of systemic emboli from clots in the poorly contracting recipient left ventricle. Two of our 3 patients are fully rehabilitated after heterotopic heart transplantation; one was lost because ofAspergillus septicemia.