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Previous Volume 351:849-851 August 26, 2004 Number 9 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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He who saves one life, saves the world entire.

— Hebrew proverb, quoted in

Thomas Keneally, Schindler's List

End-stage heart failure, characterized by marked symptoms at rest or with minimal activity despite optimal therapy, is designated as stage D heart failure. Frequent, recurring exacerbations may often be treated successfully, but decline is inevitable and life expectancy with medical therapy alone is short (survival rates are below 50 percent at one to two years) (see Figure). The addition of palliative measures, such as continuous infusions of inotropic drugs and hospice-like care, may be considered. Cardiac transplantation or permanent mechanical circulatory . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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From the Division of Cardiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, and LDS Hospital — both in Salt Lake City.

Related Letters:

A Bridge to Heart Transplantation
Boltwood C. M. Jr., O'Leary M. J., Copeland J. G., Renlund D. G., Kfoury A. G., Renlund A. R.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2004; 351:2552-2553, Dec 9, 2004. Correspondence

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• Boltwood, C. M. Jr., O'Leary, M. J., Copeland, J. G., Renlund, D. G., Kfoury, A. G., Renlund, A. R. (2004). A Bridge to Heart Transplantation. NEJM 351: 2552-2553 [Full Text]