A decade of cardiac transplantation in Coimbra: the value of experience.

Introduction And Objectives: To analyze the experience gained in 10 years of the heart transplantation program of the University Hospital of Coimbra.

Methods: Between November 2003 and December 2013, 258 patients with a mean age of 53.0±12.

Diabetes as an outcome predictor after heart transplantation.

We aimed to compare post-transplantation morbidity and survival among heart transplant recipients with and without diabetes mellitus. A retrospective review of 141 adult patients submitted to heart transplantation from November 2003 to June 2009 (with a minimum follow-up of one year) was undertaken. The patients were divided into two groups: those with (29%) and those without (71%) pre-transplantation diabetes.

Cardiac transplantation: five years' activity.

Objective: To analyze the initial five years experience of the new heart transplant program of Coimbra University Hospitals.

Methods: Between November 2003 aid December 2008, 132 patients were transplanted, with a mean age of 52.0 years (range 3-71 years), of whom 98 were male (74%).

Cardiac allograft systolic function. Is the aetiology (ischaemic or idiopathic) a determinant of ventricular function in the heart transplant patient?

The natural history of the LV systolic function (LV-SF) and functional capacity of survivors of heart transplantation (Htx) has not been defined. Some investigators suggest that SF may be different in recipients with different pre-transplant aetiologies: ischaemic or dilated, idiopathic disease. Routine transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) were performed during a 1-year follow-up in 48 Htx recipients (total 864 examinations; mean 18/patient).