The Road to Heart Transplant: Challenges, Opportunities, New Frontiers

In this CME, Mary E. Keebler, MD, and David Kaczorowski, MD, discuss the history underlying the introduction of processes and procedures of heart transplant, the 2018 heart location changes and how it influenced processes, outcomes, and management of MCS.  They also discuss processes and procedures for organ preservation during transport, novel strategies to increase organ allocation, and incorporating heart donations from hepatitis C positive patients, and incorporating heart donations through donation after cardiac death (DCD) or xenotransplantation.

Educational Objectives 

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Recall the history underlying the introduction of processes and procedures of heart transplant
• Analyze how processes and outcomes are influenced by the 2018 heart allocation changes
• Implement management of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) by understanding the effect of 2018 heart allocation changes on patients
• Implement novel strategies to increase organ allocation, and incorporating heart donations from hepatitis C positive patients
• Recognize processes and procedures for organ preservation during transport
• Implement incorporating heart donations through donation after cardiac death (DCD) or xenotransplantation

Disclosures:

All individuals in a position to control the content of this education activity have disclosed all financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All of the relevant financial relationships for the individuals listed below have been mitigated

Dr. Kaczorowski has financial interests with the following entity or entities producing health care goods or services as indicated below:

• Consultant: Abiomed, Medtronic
• Speaker’s Bureau: Aviomed, Medtronic
• Other: Intellectual Property: ECMOtek, LLC

No other members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The University of Pittsburgh designates enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit[s]™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

For your credit transcript, please access our website 4 weeks post-completion at http://ccehs.upmc.com and follow the link to the Credit Transcript page. If you do not provide the last 5 digits of your SSN on the next page you will not be able to access a CME credit transcript. Providing your SSN is voluntary.

Release Date: 8/08/2022 | Last Modified On: 8/08/2022 | Expires: 8/08/2023