In the past few years, beta-blockers, ventricular and assist devices, stem cell implants and other advancements have radically changed the landscape of heart and lung transplant medicine and the outlook for patients living with heart or lung disease.
"We urgently need to revisit the current criteria that organ centers are using and provide new, clear guidelines to help these centers update their policies in regard to waiting lists and management of potential transplant recipients," says Mandeep Mehra, M.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine and board member for the ISHLT.
During discussion at the ISHLT Meeting, Mehra explains that several agencies worldwide review and address guidelines for treatment and management of heart and lung failure in patients, but adds that none are comprehensive. "Our Society is in the ideal position to advocate comprehensive guidelines for our constituents," Mehra says.
ISHLT has created several task forces, comprised of a diverse group of its members, all of whom are active in transplant medicine. The task forces are reviewing: criteria for placing patients on a waiting list for a donor organs; pharmacological, surgical and device based intervention to successfully bridge patients to transplant. Highlights from the discussions will be presented on Saturday during the closing session of the Meeting.
Specifically, precise guidelines, without ambiguity, will be presented to the membership. These include guidelines on performance, interpretation and use of stress testing to guide patient listing, as well as when and how to use
invasive catheterization. The proposed guidelines also expand th
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Contact: Lauren Mason
lmason@masonpr.com
210-857-2521
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
7-Apr-2005