Outcomes following more than two decades of paediatric cardiac transplantation.

Objective: There have been significant changes in the field of paediatric cardiac transplantation over the last two decades. We report experience of over 22 years from a single UK transplant centre.

Methods: A total of 189 orthotopic cardiac transplants were performed in 182 children aged <18 years between March 1987 and March 2009 in our institution. Patients were identified and outcomes reviewed using the cardiopulmonary transplant database and hospital medical records.

Results: 182 patients underwent cardiac transplantation, mean age 8.3 years (0.1-17.9 years), 91 (50%) male. Mean follow-up time was 9.0 years (0.3-22.3 years). 117 patients (64%) had a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, 65 (36%) had congenital heart disease. There was no significant difference in age at transplant between the group with cardiomyopathy and the group with congenital heart disease. 32 patients (17.6%) were on mechanical support prior to transplant. Three (1.6%) patients have required long-term renal replacement therapy post transplant, and 16 (8.8%) developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Survival was 93% at 30 days, 89% at 1 year, 85% at 5 years, 70% at 10 years and 67% at 15 years with a decrease in mortality over time. Seven patients (3.8%) were re-transplanted.

Conclusions: Outcomes following cardiac transplantation in childhood are improving with increased experience. There has been a reduction in 30-day mortality over time.