Advanced Practice in Cardiothoracic Transplant Care

The NHS Blood and Transplant service (NHSBT) have worked with the four UK health providers to develop the strategy Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020. Our course is designed to bridge the gap in education currently offered for health care practitioners interested in cardiothoracic transplantation.

Royal Papworth Hospital is one of the largest heart and lung transplant centres in the UK, employing internationally recognised Surgeons, Physicians and Allied Health Professionals. As a major teaching hospital, this array of clinical experts is routinely accustomed to the pursuit of advancing knowledge in this field, ensuring that evidence based contemporary practice informs the course delivery.

Outline content

Infection and rejection:

• Understand which immunosuppressive medications are prescribed and why
• The side effects of immunosuppressive medication and the impact on blood results and haemodynamic
• Wound healing and infection control for the immunocompromised patient
• Follow-up surveillance and health care monitoring for the post cardiothoracic transplant.

The co-morbidities within the arena of transplantation:

• The importance placed on nutrition and food regulations
• Exercise regime guidance for pre and post-transplant patients
• The prevalence of diabetes post-transplant and its management
• The necessity for surveillance of skin and bone density in the post transplant patient.

Anatomy and physiology:

• Pre-existing heart and lung conditions
• Anatomical abnormalities and the medicinal and surgical interventions that is available
• Life with a congenital abnormality or heart failure
• The role of the microbiologist and virologist within transplantation.

Multi-disciplinary team approach:

• The assessment of organs for implantation
• Core skills and knowledge required for the optimisation and retrieval of organs
• The role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and transplantation
• Novel techniques utilised to increase potential organ implantation and the research being undertaken
• Organ donation provision
• The use of experts to provide holistic care post transplant
• Legal and ethical issues.

Psychological impact of transplant:

• Common psychological problems encountered by the pre transplant patient
• The role of the psychologist and the social worker within the field of transplant
• The voice of the carer and the patient in relation to transplant.

Assessment