Common Postoperative Heart Transplant Complications

Heart failure or congestive heart failure remains a major public health concern on the global scale. End-stage heart failure is a severe disease where the heart is unable to pump enough oxygen and nutrients to other tissues and organs of the body. When the lines of treatment of heart failure such as lifestyle adjustments, medical management, and device therapy fail, a patient may be deemed a candidate for heart transplantation. This article reviews the history of heart transplantation, complications post-heart transplantation, and nursing management considerations for the immediate period after heart transplant surgery.