Primary Graft Dysfunction Following Heart Transplantation: A Modern Review of Primary Graft Dysfunction

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) represents a poor prognostic outcome for patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). The risk factors associated with PGD are multifactorial and complex, encompassing factors related to the donor, recipient, and preservation. The early expansion of donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors has also resulted in an increased incidence of PGD. This paper aims to review the pertinent literature on the risk factors, patient outcomes, and trends of PGD post-OHT. Further discussion regarding PGD following DCD from an OHT, the treatment of PGD, and current efforts to decrease PGD are also explored.