Dr. Fishbein received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Illinois. He completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Harbor General Hospital/UCLA Medical Center. He is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
When all potential problems are considered, the results of transplantation
are remarkably good. Keep in mind that heart failure is a very serious and
life-threatening disease. In patients with severe forms of heart failure that
require transplantation, the one year mortality rate (that is the percent of
patients who die in within one year) is 80%. Overall, five year survival in
patients with any form of heart failure is less than 50%. Compare these outcomes
with cardiac transplant. After heart transplant, five year survival
averages about 50%-60%. One year survival averages about 85%-90%.
What are the complications of a heart transplant?
One might ask, "Why is survival no better than it is after a heart transplant?"
Good question. As part of our defense mechanism to fight off infection and even
cancer, our bodies have an "immune system" to recognize and eliminate foreign
tissues such as viruses and bacteria. Unfortunately, our immune system also
attacks transplanted organs. This is what happens when organs are rejected; they
are recognized as foreign by the body. Rejection can be controlled with powerful
"immunosuppressive" medications. If there is not enough immunosuppression the
organ can reject acutely. Even when it seems that there is no active rejection,
there may be more subtle chronic rejection that consists of a growth of tissue,
something like scar tissue, which causes blockage of the blood vessels of the
heart. The blockage of the vessels is the process that ultimately causes the
transplanted heart to fail. It is this chronic rejection that is the major
limiting factor for the long-term success of heart transplantation.
Unfortunately, immunosuppression is a double-edged sword. While
immunosuppression blocks rejection, because it suppresses the immune system, transplant patients are more susceptible to infection and cancers of various types. Among older transplantation patients, as survival has improved, more patients are eventually dying from cancers.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. A poor blood supply resulting from congestive heart failure may cause the body's organ systems to fail, leading to a weakened heart muscle and fluid accumulation in the lungs and body tissue. There are many diseases that can impair pumping efficiency and symptoms of congestive heart failure including fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. Treatments include lifestyle modifications, medications, heart transplant, and therapy.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is the most common type of infection acquired by patients while hospitalized. Patients at risk for VRE are those who are already ill, and hospitalized, including individuals with diabetes, elderly, ICU patients, kidney failure patients, or patients requiring catheters. Enterococci can survive for months in the digestive tract and female genital tract. Other risk factors for acquiring VRE include those how have been previously treated with vancomycin and combinations of other antibiotics. Treatment of VRE is generally with other antibiotics other than vancomycin. Prevention of VRE can be achieved by proper hand hygiene.
Medical shock is a life-threatening medical condition. There are several types of medical shock, septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, and neurogenic shock. Causes of shock include heart attack, heart failure, heavy bleeding (internal and external), infection, anaphylaxis, spinal cord injury, severe burns, chronic vomiting or diarrhea. Low blood pressure is the key sign of sock. Treatment is dependant upon the type of shock.
Heart failure is caused by many conditions including coronary artery disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, and conditions that overwork the heart. Symptoms of heart failure include congested lungs, fluid and water retention, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, and rapid or irregular heartbeats.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart's ability to pump blood is decreased because the heart's main pumping chamber is enlarged and weakened. Symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy include chest pain, heart failure, swelling of the lower extremities, fatigue, weight gain, fainting, palpitations, dizziness and blood clots.
The heart is a very important organ in the body. It is responsible for continuously pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. It is a fist-sized muscle that beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping a total of five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.
Heart RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the