Why Is a Heart Transplant Performed?

A heart transplant is performed in cases of heart failure in which improvement cannot be achieved with other treatment methods. The causes of heart failure in adults are as follows:

• Coronary artery disease
• Weakness of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
• Heart valve diseases
• Congenital heart defects
• Failure of a previous heart transplant

Patients under 65 years of age who have reached the final stage of heart failure and have a life expectancy of less than 1 year are candidates for a heart transplant. Older patients may become transplant candidates after their physical condition is evaluated.

The most common causes of heart failure in children are congenital heart defects and weakness of the heart muscle.