Ann Thorac Surg 1996;61:794
© 1996 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Discussion
Discussion
See also page 789.
DR TODD L. DEMMY (Columbia, MO): One question that this report tends to suggest is whether to consider a spinal injury patient referred for cardiac transplantation. I would not consider a potential transplant patient with a spinal injury because of rehabilitation and other concerns. I can see after this report that these concerns may not be insurmountable and maybe discussed further by others.
DR WALKER: I think that the postoperative requirements and rehabilitation of an individual after cardiac transplantation are different than the needs of patients who are having coronary bypass operations. My experience in dealing with patients with spinal cord injury is that their quality of life is really improved after their coronary procedure and they have a good outlook on life. Based on our experience, I doubt that the hemodynamic consequences of cardiac transplantation would be different in a patient with spinal cord injury. However, the frequency of urinary tract infections in these individuals may prohibit them from taking immunosuppressive drugs chronically. I would have to sit down and talk to them. But I do not think you should use a spinal cord injury as the sole reason to exclude an individual from a heart operation.
Related Article
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Coronary Operations in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
- William A. Walker, Betty J. Evans, James W. Pate, Darryl S. Weiman, and John C. Riddle
Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1996 61: 789-793.
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