A spokesman at the hospital said it could not easily determine how many patients were awaiting treatment.

"I'd love to chat more, but patients await and it looks like there will be no end to them."

Last September 929 patients were awaiting a suitable heart, compared with 300 in 1986.

At issue is a growing backlog of patients awaiting surgery.

As he had expected, the patient was still awaiting catheterization.

The patients awaited divine command in their dream to go back home.

"Fifty to 60 percent of patients awaiting donors will die before getting a transplant."

There can be high levels of stress for newly diagnosed patients awaiting surgery.

The 15 patients awaiting heart transplants will be sent to other hospitals, a hospital spokesman said yesterday.

Among the patients awaiting discharge was a 33-year-old woman, a former drug addict with two teen-age children.