Emerging Paradigms in Anesthesiology for Heart Transplantation: Current Trends and Future Directions
Heart transplant volume in the United States had remained relatively stable from the early 1990s until 2012, falling in the 2,100-2,200 transplants per year range. Since that time, there has been consistent annual growth, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, 4,111 heart transplants were performed in the U.S. and over 6,000 worldwide, including 491 pediatric (<18 years) patients in the U.S. However, despite the increase in heart transplants, there continues to be a shortage, with over 3,300 patients remaining on the waitlist in the U.S. alone.