Publications by authors named "Maureen P Flattery"
Current recommendations do not discourage pregnancy in stable, orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) recipients who are more than 1 year posttransplant, although a highly specialized level of care with a multidisciplinary team is recommended. These patients may incur significant risk to themselves, their allograft, and/or their fetuses. Recognition and treatment of posttransplant complications in pregnancy also may be difficult.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The changing epidemiology of cardiac allograft rejection has prompted many to question the yield of surveillance endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in heart transplantation (HT) patients. We sought to determine the yield of EMB in the modern era.
Methods: We evaluated 2597 EMBs in 182 consecutive HT patients who survived to their first EMB.
Background: The psychosocial assessment of candidates for transplantation (PACT), developed to assess candidates for heart transplant, has not been routinely used to assess left ventricular assist device (LVAD) candidacy. We examined the efficacy of the PACT to assess psychosocial outcomes in LVAD patients.
Methods: We reviewed patients who received LVAD implants between June 2006 and April 2011 and retrospectively applied the PACT.
Background: Advances in mechanical circulatory support have reduced morbidity and mortality in end-stage heart failure. To date, there have been no published studies examining the psychosocial impact on patients who are supported with a total artificial heart (TAH-t).
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of patients currently supported by the TAH-t awaiting transplant.
Objective: To describe differences in lifestyle and health status across 5 post-transplant periods.
Methods: The sample consisted of 126 heart transplant recipients (87% men) grouped by time after transplantation: group 1, 12 to 24 months (n= 13); group 2, 25 to 48 months (n= 19); group 3, 49 to 72 months (n=24); group 4, 72 to 96 months (n=27); and group 5, > or =97 months (n=43). Data were obtained using demographic and health status evaluation forms and the Lifestyle Profile-II, which measures physical activity, nutrition, health responsibility, interpersonal relationships, stress management, and spiritual growth.
Background: Research on the outcomes of medical therapy in persons with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) has increased as new therapeutic options have emerged. Little investigation has been done on the impact of living with PAH despite inferences that quality of life (QOL) improves.
Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe patient experiences of living with PAH and identify factors that may have an impact on QOL.
Studies show that survival rates of cardiac transplantation are lower for African American transplant recipients than for Caucasians. Due to similarities in terms of etiology, treatment modalities and responses to these modalities, the authors examine some potential variables for survival of cardiac transplantation that have been well documented in both the renal transplantation literature and the medically managed congestive heart failure literature. The authors also discuss access to care, socioeconomic factors and immunological differences in attempting to identify relevant factors for survival of cardiac transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLifestyle and quality of life in long-term cardiac transplant recipients.
J Heart Lung Transplant
March 2003
Background: The purposes of this study were to describe long-term (>1 year) cardiac transplant recipients' perceptions of barriers to health-promoting behaviors; ability to manage their health, health-promoting lifestyle, health status and quality of life (QOL); and determine predictors of QOL.
Methods: Data were collected from 93 recipients who completed a self-report questionnaire incorporating: (1). patient characteristics; (2).