What makes someone eligible to get a heart transplant?

Refractory symptoms: Pts that fail a maximal oral medical therapy reqiure multiple admissions to the hospital visits requiring IV medications to stay out of heart failure.Pts that require an asist device such a lvad are the types of pts that are cosidered for transplant. An vo2 stress test, muga scan, heartcaths, etc are tests done to eval pts. Elderly pts smokers morbidly obese and pts with poor compliance r excluded.

End stage heart fail: End stage heart failure, intractable angina or ventricular arthythmias are the most common indications for heart transplant. Eligibility screening includes a thorough evaluation: medical (to rule out contraindications such as active cancer, bad diabetes, etc.), social (good support system, non user of tobacco, heavy alcohol or drugs) and financial (ability to pay for meds afterwards).

A Failing Heart: They have end stage cardiac disease, and therefore a predicted shortened life expectancy.