Surgery after heart transplantation.

Of 17 patients who underwent heart transplantation in 1985-1988, three were later operated for reasons unrelated to the transplant. Two of them had acute cholecystitis and one haemothorax, due to rupture of the internal mammary artery during endomyocardial biopsy. Cholecystectomy was performed in the first two cases and thoracotomy in the third, with uneventful recovery in all cases. Early diagnosis and adequate surgical treatment are necessary in these cases. Consideration of the immunosuppressive medication is important during and after operation.