Cardiac transplantation in a regional center: goals and results at two years.

Cardiac transplantation moved from the realm of an investigational procedure to a therapeutic modality in the early 1980s. While one-year survival of 80 percent or greater can be expected, close follow-up is required to monitor for rejection, infection, and other late complications. With the need for close surveillance, both short and long-term, improved patient access to the transplantation center based on geographic proximity allows enhanced care by the original transplant team.