Is the transpulmonary pressure gradient a predictor for mortality after orthotopic cardiac transplantation?

Summary Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is a well‐known risk factor for right ventricular failure after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The influence of preoperative transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPG) and PVR on post‐transplant 30 days mortality was evaluated. To analyze the response of PVR and TPG to cardiac transplantation, we analyzed 718 adult patients undergoing primary cardiac transplantation. Indications for operation were: 35.2% ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), 61.2% idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and 3.3% other diagnosis (e.g. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). The mean age (51.9) and the mean ischemic time (169.7 min) were comparable between 30 days survivors and nonsurvivors. Student's t‐tests and chi‐square analysis were used to compare data from 30‐day survivors and nonsurvivors. Statistical significance was defined as P