The Transplantation and Replacement of Thoracic Organs: The Present Status of Biological and Mechanical Replacement of the Heart and Lungs

This second edition of the volume reflects the major developments that have taken place in the field of thoracic organ transplantation and replacement. With the exception of the historical chapters, every chapter has been extensively rewritten and updated and many new chapters have been added. The rapid growth of single and bilateral lung transplantation and the increasing use of left ventricular assist devices for long-term support are reflected in the text. Considerable emphasis has been placed on the current experimental and clinical developments taking place in both transplantation and mechanical replacement of organs, thus providing a preview of the clinical advances that are anticipated within the next few years. The volume contains 90 chapters that are grouped into four main areas: (i) general considerations of thoracic organ transplantation, (ii) heart transplantation, (iii) lung and heart-lung transplantation, and (iv) current and future advances in thoracic organ replacement.