Heart transplantation criteria and challenges in Brazil

Heart transplantation procedures involve complex medical evaluations and rigorous selection criteria. Beyond simple organ failure, doctors consider advanced cardiac insufficiency and the failure of alternative treatments, such as medications, implantable devices, or catheter interventions, before recommending surgery.

In Brazil, the National Transplant System manages the waiting list based on medical urgency, blood compatibility, and donor characteristics rather than a simple chronological order. While Brazil performed 427 cardiac transplants in 2025, experts note that regional inequalities and geographic distances impact the effectiveness of the system, as many severe cases may not reach specialized centers.

Pediatric transplantation presents unique challenges, requiring specialized surgical techniques and lifelong medical follow-up. The process involves long waiting periods, sometimes requiring the use of artificial hearts to sustain patients until a compatible organ becomes available through donation.