The Spanish National Registry of Heart Transplantation. Ninth official report (1984-1997)

The results of the Spanish National Registry of Heart Transplantation, made up of 12 centers currently performing transplantation are reported. 318 transplantations performed in 1997, which, together with those performed since 1984, totals 2, 406 transplantations. The number of procedures increased again last year, breaking the trend of recent years. This has probably been due to an increase in organ obtention and a reduction in the acceptance level required, necessary because the waiting list has increased. Over 100 variables have been analyzed per patient to measure mortality predictors. The results are comparable to those published by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation. Early survival, at the first 30 days post-transplantation, is lower in the National Registry, though 1-year survival tends to be higher, with a 3% fall in the National Registry and 4% in the International one. In conclusion, heart transplantation is a procedure completely established in Spain, with results comparable to those of the International Registry, due to the great experience of the centers.