Overview
A heart transplant may be recommended for heart failure caused by:
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart walls)
- Heart valve disease with congestive heart failure
- Severe congenital heart disease
Heart transplant surgery is not recommended for patients who have:
- Kidney, lung, or liver disease
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
- Other life-threatening diseases
Review Date 4/24/2021
Updated by: Mary C. Mancini, MD, PhD, Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Christus Highland Medical Center, Shreveport, LA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.