RESUMO
PURPOSE--To report our initial clinical experience with heterotopic heart transplantation, stressing its indications and a new modification in surgical technique. METHODS--We studied three patients underwent heterotopic heart transplantation, using an original technique in one of them. This new technique allows to connect both pulmonary arteries without any prosthetic tube. RESULTS--One early death and two late survivors, with 17 and 20 months of follow-up. One of them is clinically well and practices sports, regularly. CONCLUSION--Heterotopic heart transplantation could be considered as a good therapeutic option for end-stage patients with cardiomyopathy and right pulmonary vascular resistance, specially those with right ventricle. It can improve general results of heart transplantation because it reduces the early risks related to hemodynamic problems in a selected group of patients.