A transatlantic perspective

On both sides of the atlantic ocean attempts are made – and have been made in the past – not only to save lives but also to improve quality of life in transplant patients. We present historical developments, registry data, and the current situation of thoracic transplantation with special focus on Germany and the United States. Heart transplantation has now become an element of heart failure therapy which has to be integrated into a multimodal treatment concept also involving pharmacological treatment, cardiac valve replacement or resynchronization therapy.