Heart Transplantation By Martin Hertl, MD, PhD, Rush University Medical Center Reviewed / Revised Aug 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Procedure Complications Prognosis Topic Resources Manifestations of Heart Transplan... Heart transplantation is an option for patients who have any of the following and who remain at risk of death and have intolerable symptoms despite optimal use of drugs and medical devices: End-stage heart failure Coronary artery disease Arrhythmias Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Congenital heart disease Transplantation may also be indicated for patients who Cannot be weaned from temporary cardiac-assist devices after myocardial infarction or nontransplant cardiac surgery Have cardiac sequelae of a lung disorder requiring lung transplantation The only absolute contraindication for heart transplantation is Pulmonary hypertension that does not respond to preoperative treatments Relative contraindications include organ insufficiency (eg, pulmonary, renal, hepatic) and local or systemic infiltrative disorders (eg, cardiac sarcoma, amyloidosis).