[Psychological aspects of heart transplantation].

The most important rules of heart transplantation qualification as well as the factors which burden patients who are treated with this method are discussed in the article. Particularly difficult moments for patients arethose of decision making regarding the transplantation, which is accompanied with fear, and sometimes associated with ethical or religious doubts, subsequently--the stress related to the time waiting for the operation, and thereafter, the rehabilitation demanding patient's co-operation. The difficulties associated with living with a transplanted heart refer to regular immunosuppressive treatment, follow-up visits, avoiding infections, withdrawal from drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, living in a healthy life-style. The person with a transplanted heart has to acquire a series of skills and perform a lot of tasks associated with following doctor's appropriate advises.