RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Many pediatric heart transplant recipients live a significant distance from their transplant center. This results in families either traveling long distances or relying on outside physicians to assume aspects of their care. Distance has been implicated to play a role in congenital heart disease outcomes, but its impact on heart transplantation has not been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of distance on pediatric heart transplant outcomes. METHODS: The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database was queried for all pediatric heart transplant recipients from large US children's hospitals (1987-2014). Patients were stratified into 4 groups (<20, 20-50, 50-100, and >100 miles) based on distance. Survival curves were generated and compared using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to adjust for differences between groups. RESULTS: A total of 4768 patients were included in the analysis, of which 1435 (30.1%) were <20 miles, 940 (19.7%) were 20 to 50 miles, 806 (16.9%) were 50 to 100 miles, and 1587 (33.3%) were >100 miles from their transplant center. There was no difference in posttransplant survival based on distance after adjusting for patient age, gender, ethnicity, blood type, diagnosis, listing status, and the need for pretransplant ventricular assist device, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ventilator support. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in graft survival after pediatric heart transplantation based on patient distance from their transplant center. Our data suggest the current strategy of transitioning some aspects of transplant care to local physicians or management from a distance does not increase posttransplant mortality risk.
Assuntos
Geografia/estatística & dados numéricos , Cardiopatias Congênitas/cirurgia , Transplante de Coração/reabilitação , Transplante de Coração/estatística & dados numéricos , Hospitais Pediátricos/estatística & dados numéricos , Sobreviventes/estatística & dados numéricos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento , Estados UnidosRESUMO
The use of status exceptions (SE) was recently publicized as a strategy to reduce waitlist times for children awaiting heart transplant (HTx). The aim of this study was to assess SE use across UNOS regions and compare survival in patients listed using a SE to those listed by standard criteria. The OPTN database was queried for all pediatric patients listed for HTx (2000-2014). SE use was compared across UNOS regions. Survival curves were generated and compared using the log-rank test. 1A SE use is uncommon, being utilized in 108 of 4587 pediatric 1A listings (2.4%). There is significant variability in SE use across UNOS regions (0.7%-16.4% of 1A listings, P < .001). Waitlist survival is significantly higher in candidates listed using a 1A SE compared to those listed by standard criteria (P = .001) and is similar to 1B listings. Regional variation in 1A SE use has the potential to introduce bias into a system designed to be equitable. Waitlist survival in patients listed using a SE is similar to those listed status 1B, suggesting these patients may not require 1A status. Careful review of pediatric heart allocation policies is needed to optimize patient outcomes and ensure a fair and unbiased allocation system.
Assuntos
Equidade em Saúde , Insuficiência Cardíaca/cirurgia , Transplante de Coração , Obtenção de Tecidos e Órgãos/métodos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Geografia , Insuficiência Cardíaca/mortalidade , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Masculino , Alocação de Recursos , Tempo para o Tratamento , Resultado do Tratamento , Estados Unidos , Listas de EsperaRESUMO
There are limited published data on pediatric organ donation rates. The aim of this study was to describe the trends in pediatric organ donation over time and to assess the regional variation in pediatric deceased organ donation. OPTN data were utilized to assess the trends in pediatric organ donation over time. The number of deceased pediatric organ donors was indexed using regional mortality data obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics and compared across UNOS regions and two different eras. The number of pediatric deceased organ donors has declined in the recent era, largely driven by fewer adolescent donors. For all age groups, there is significant regional variation in organ donation rates, with identifiable high- and low-performing regions. Expansion of the donor pool may be possible by optimizing organ donation in regions demonstrating lower recruitment of pediatric donors. Using the region with the highest donation rate for each age group as the gold standard, we estimate a potential 24% increase in the number of donors if all regions performed comparably, equating to 215 new pediatric donors annually.
Assuntos
Transplante de Órgãos , Doadores de Tecidos/estatística & dados numéricos , Obtenção de Tecidos e Órgãos/tendências , Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Bases de Dados Factuais , Morte , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Pediatria/métodos , Estados UnidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In 2016, we initiated a quality improvement endeavor to increase pediatric heart offer acceptance. This study assessed the effect of these interventions at our center. METHODS: We evaluted pre- and postimplementation cohorts (January 1, 2008-December 31, 2016 vs January 1, 2017-July 1, 2023) comparing donor heart utilization. Six interventions were iterated over time to increase offer acceptance ("extended criteria"): ABO-incompatible transplant, ex vivo perfusion for distanced donors, 3-dimensional total cardiac volume (TCV) assessment, acceptance of hepatitis-C or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 infected donors, and institutional culture change favoring consideration of donors previously considered unacceptable. Outcomes studied included annual HT volume, median waitlist duration, sequence number at acceptance, and post-transplant clinical outcomes. RESULTS: During the study period, annual transplant volume increased from 16/year to 25/year pre- and postimplementation. Three hundred thirteen of 389 (80%) listed patients were transplanted. Waitlist duration shortened postimplementation (p = 0.01), as did the percentage of accepted heart offers utilizing at least 1 extended criterion (p < 0.001). Institutional culture change and TCV assessment had the largest impact on donor heart utilization (p = 0.04 and p < 0.001). There was no difference in post-HT intubation or intensive care unit days (p = 0.05-0.9), though post-transplant hospitalization duration (p < 0.001) increased. Post-transplant survival was unaffected by the use of extended criteria hearts (p = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: We report a successful longitudinal, multifaceted effort to increase organ offer utilization, with institutional culture change and TCV assessments most impactful. The use of extended criteria hearts was not associated with inferior survival.
RESUMO
CONTEXT: The symptom profile of children dying from cardiac disease, especially heart failure, differs from those with cancer and other non-cardiac conditions. Treatment with vasoactive infusions at home may be a superior therapy for symptom control for these patients, rather than traditional pain and anxiety management with morphine and benzodiazepines. OBJECTIVES: We report our experience using outpatient milrinone in children receiving hospice care for end-stage heart failure. METHODS: Retrospective review of a contemporary cohort of all patients at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford who were discharged on intravenous milrinone and hospice care between 2008 and 2021. Clinical data, including cardiac diagnosis, milrinone dose and route of administration, total milrinone days, symptoms reported, rehospitalization rates, concurrent therapies and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 8 patients, median duration of home milrinone infusion was 191 (33, 572) days with the longest support duration 1,054 days. All (100%) patients were also receiving diuretics at the time of death. Five (63%) were receiving no other pain control medications until the active phase of dying. From milrinone initiation to last outpatient assessment, a reduction in the number of patients reporting respiratory discomfort, abdominal pain, weight loss/lack of appetite, and fatigue was observed. Six (75%) died at home. CONCLUSION: We used milrinone with oral diuretics effectively for symptom control in children with heart failure on palliative care. Our experience was that this combination can be used safely in the outpatient setting for long-term use without the addition of opiates, benzodiazepines, or supplemental oxygen in most cases.
Assuntos
Insuficiência Cardíaca , Cuidados Paliativos na Terminalidade da Vida , Humanos , Criança , Milrinona/uso terapêutico , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Infusões Intravenosas , Dor/tratamento farmacológico , Diuréticos/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To present emerging models for oncology health professionals to consider when coordinating cancer care among professionals, beginning as early as initial professional education and training and continuing along the cancer continuum to include cancer treatment and psychosocial support. DATA SOURCES: Journal articles indexed on the National Library of Medicine database and personal communications with oncology colleagues. CONCLUSION: Interprofessional collaboration is becoming increasingly important in the specialty of oncology. The complexity of new therapies and their associated side-effect profiles benefit from a collaborative, interprofessional approach to the care of the patient with cancer. Additionally, oncology patients can benefit from interprofessional collaboration across the complexities of the care continuum. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses are often in roles that can facilitate interprofessional collaboration, optimizing the care of patients with cancer.