Transplantation of the heart has become an accepted method for the treatment of termin al cardi- ac failure. Despite obvious advances in the care of patients after trasplantation a number of problems exist. The authors summarize their experience with the long-term follow-up of 100 adult patients with transplantations made in the Brno Centre of Cardiovascular and Transplantation Surgery. One-year survival in the group of patients is 80 %, three-year survival 69 %. The authors discuss indications and contraindications of cardiac transplantations , necessary preoperative and postoperative examinations, they follow-up the most serious complications during the po- sttransplantation period. They mention therapeutic possibilities and outline briefly the perspecti- ves of care of patients after cardiac transplantation. Despite the number of problems encountered transplantation of the heart is for indicated pati- ents with cardiac failure a unique chance to improve the prognosis of survival and the quality of life.

        Key words: Transplantation of the heart - Indications - Complications - Therapy.