Who is a good candidate for orthotopic heart transplantation?

Good candidates are patients with end-stage heart failure who have not responded to medical or surgical therapies, such as those with severe coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, or congenital heart defects. Indications include a life expectancy of less than one year without transplantation and a reasonable chance of survival post-surgery. Contraindications include active infections, severe pulmonary hypertension, irreversible liver or kidney failure, active cancer, or a history of non-compliance with medical regimens. A thorough evaluation by a transplant team is required to determine eligibility.