Author(s): G Ramasubramanyam
The first heart transplant was performed in 1966 by Christian Bernard in South Africa, remained relatively unknown until the development of more effective anti-rejection drug regimens in 1970s and 1980s. The current indications for heart transplantation are patients with severely impaired left ventricular function, intractable angina, unmanageable arrhythmias and severe diastolic failure.