Ventricular Remodeling After Orthotopic Cardiac Transplantation

Abstract

Significant right and left ventricular remodeling occurs between 1 month and 12 months after orthotopic cardiac transplantation, with progressive cavity dilatation but reduction in global left ventricular muscle mass. These adjustments, especially in the left ventricle, tend to reduce the volume/mass ratio by 1 year and are compatible with normalization of ventricular wall tension between the early and late scan dates. Routine clinical measurements of ejection fraction alone mask the almost parallel increases in stroke volume and end-diastolic volume during the first 12 months after orthotopic cardiac transplantation.