What conditions lead to the need for a heart transplant?
Most people who become candidates for a heart transplant have severe heart failure from one of several causes. One group is patients who have ischemic cardiomyopathy. They may have had multiple heart attacks or they may have had coronary bypass surgery and no longer have any vessels to use for a bypass procedure. They may not be able to undergo further stent procedures, and their heart is failing. Another group is patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. These people, who tend to be younger, have heart failure and the cause is unknown. A third group of potential transplant patients is also emerging. These are people who have congenital heart disease that was either repaired when they were children or was never repaired. Now their hearts are starting to fail, and transplant may become an option.
