Cardiac Transplantation in Old Heart Recipients - An Overview for those who Worry

Despite many technical advances and refined immunosuppression developed during the past decade, advanced age still remains the most controversial area in heart transplantation and is still considered a contraindication in many centers. As far as surgical and long-term results are concerned, there seems to be no difference between younger and older heart recipients. However limited number of the donors brings in the ethic concerns of using this scarce public resource for relatively unproductive elder patients. This dilemma can only be solved with each country and each center decision based on their patient and donor profiles.