Racial disparities among patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Coronavirus Disease 2019 eras: A retrospective registry review.

Objectives: Although many studies have addressed such disparities caused by COVID-19, to our knowledge, no study has focused on the association of race on outcomes for patients with COVID-19 requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. The goal of this study was to assess association of race on death and duration on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in both the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry and included adults (≥18 years) who required venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between January 2019 and April 2021. We performed descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. Our primary outcomes were death and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration. Results: A total of 7477 patients were included after excluding 340 patients (4.3%) who were missing race data. In the COVID-19 era, 1474 of 2777 COVID-19-positive patients (53.1%) died. Our regression model suggested somewhat of a protective effect on death for Black and multiple race patients. Additionally, a diagnosis of COVID-19 and patients in the COVID-19 era in general, irrespective of COVID-19 diagnosis, had higher odds of death. Hispanic patients had the longest average venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation run times. Conclusions: Our study using data from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry provides updated data on patients supported with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras between 2019 and 2021 with a focus on race. Patients in the COVID-19 era group also had higher mortality compared with those in the pre-COVID-19 era even after being adjusted for COVID-19 diagnosis. Black and multiple races appeared somewhat protective in terms of death. Hispanic race was associated with longer venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration.

Surgeons of the Future: A Novel Screening Tool for High-School Students.

INTRODUCTION: Given a looming shortage of surgeons and currently inadequate pipelines into our specialty for under-represented groups, there is an urgent need to identify and foster interest in young individuals who may have great potential as future surgeons. We aimed to explore the utility and feasibility of a novel survey instrument to identify high-school students well suited for careers in surgery based on personality profiling and grit. METHODS: An electronic screening tool was developed, combining components of the Myers-Briggs personality profile, the Big-Five Inventory 10, and the grit scale. This brief questionnaire was electronically distributed to surgeons and students across two academic institutions and three high schools (one private and two public). Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Chi-squared/Fisher's exact test were performed to evaluate variations between groups. RESULTS: Surgeons (n = 96) displayed mean Grit score of 4.03 (range: 3.08-4.92; standard deviation: 0.43), while high-schoolers' (n = 61) mean score was 3.38 (range: 2.08-4.58; standard deviation: 0.62) (P < 0.0001). Surgeons showed Myers-Brigg Type Indicator trait-dominance toward extroversion, intuition, thinking, and judging, while students displayed greater breadth of traits. Students were much less likely to show dominance in introversion versus extroversion (P < 0.0001) as well as perceiving versus judging (P < 0.0001). Big-Five Inventory 10 traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness were more prevalent among surgeons (P < 0.0001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Importantly, there exists a subgroup of high-school students with personality and grit similar to those of surgeons. Moreover, we have demonstrated the feasibility of using this novel screening tool for future studies aimed to create pipelines for early exposure opportunities and mentorship.

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery Before Lung Transplantation: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is treatment option for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the second most common indication for lung transplantation (LTx) in the United States. Lung volume reduction surgery before LTx is controversial. Single-institution studies report contradicting results, and the impact of undergoing LVRS before LTx on outcomes after LTx is unclear. METHODS: We reviewed the United Network for Organ Sharing database for all adults (aged more than 18 years) who underwent first-time LTx for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the lung allocation score era. We used patient demographic and clinical characteristics and lung allocation score to propensity match patients who did and patients who did not undergo LVRS before LTx. The primary exposure was prior LVRS. The primary outcome was graft failure after LTx. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 4905 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease underwent LTx between May 2005 and March 2017. Of them, 107 patients (2.2%) underwent LVRS before LTx. Propensity matching generated 212 matches (106 LVRS+LTx, and 106 LTx only). Median survival was significantly longer in the LTx only cohort (6.5 vs 3.4 years, P = .034). Lung volume reduction surgery before lung transplantation was associated with significantly increased risk of graft failure after lung transplant (hazard ratio 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 2.60; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: In this national, propensity-matched analysis of LVRS before LTx, we show that LVRS is associated with a significantly increased risk of graft failure. Patients who undergo LVRS and remain in need of LTx should be carefully assessed and followed postoperatively.

Sex Differences in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Techniques: A Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Female patients with coronary artery disease have inferior outcomes compared with male patients, including higher mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We aimed to evaluate the association of female sex with the use of guideline-concordant CABG revascularization techniques. METHODS: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was queried for adult patients who underwent first-time isolated CABG in the United States from 2011 to 2019. The association between female sex and the odds of (1) receiving a left internal mammary artery graft for revascularization of the left anterior descending artery, (2) undergoing complete revascularization, and (3) undergoing multiarterial grafting was assessed, adjusting for procedural anatomy. RESULTS: Among 1,212,487 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 75% were male (n = 911,178) and 25% were female (n = 301,309). Female sex was associated with lower unadjusted rates of revascularization with an internal mammary artery graft (93.9% vs 95.9%, P < .001), bilateral internal mammary artery graft (2.9% vs 5.6%, P < .001), or radial artery graft (3.2% vs 5.6%, P < .001). After adjustment, female patients had lower odds than males of receiving a left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending artery (adjusted odds ratio 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.75 to 0.83; P < .001), undergoing complete revascularization (adjusted odds ratio 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.83 to 0.90; P < .001), and undergoing multiarterial grafting (adjusted odds ratio 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.75 to 0.81; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Female sex was associated with 14% to 22% lower odds of undergoing guideline-concordant revascularization including left internal mammary artery to left anterior descending artery grafting, multiarterial grafting, and complete revascularization. Further investigation is necessary to determine why revascularization approaches differ by sex and to what degree sex disparities in coronary artery disease outcomes are due to surgical approach.

Association of Volume and Outcomes in 234 556 Patients Undergoing Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between institutional volume and operative mortality after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) remains unclear. METHODS: From January 2013 to June 2018, 234 556 patients underwent isolated SAVR (n = 144 177) or SAVR with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n = 90 379) within the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. The association between annualized SAVR volume (group 1 [1-25 SAVRs], group 2 [26-50 SAVRs], group 3 [51-100 SAVRs], and group 4 [>100 SAVRs]) and operative mortality and composite major morbidity or mortality was assessed. Random effects models were used to evaluate whether historical (2013-2015) SAVR volume or risk-adjusted outcomes explained future (2016-2018) risk-adjusted outcomes. RESULTS: The annualized median number of SAVRs per site was 35 (interquartile range, 22-59; isolated aortic valve replacement [AVR], 20; AVR with CABG, 13). Among isolated SAVR cases, the mean operative mortality and composite morbidity or mortality were 1.5% and 9.7%, respectively, at the highest-volume sites (group 4), with significantly higher rates among progressively lower-volume groups (P trend < .001). After adjustment, lower-volume centers had increased odds of operative mortality (group 1 vs group 4 [reference]: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for SAVR, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.91-2.64]; AOR for SAVR with CABG, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.67-2.30]) and major morbidity or mortality (AOR for SAVR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.39-1.69]; AOR for SAVR with CABG, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.32-1.61]) compared with the highest-volume institutions. Substantial variation in outcomes was observed across hospitals within each volume category, and prior outcomes explained a greater proportion of hospital operative outcomes than did prior volume. CONCLUSIONS: Operative outcomes after SAVR with or without CABG is inversely associated with institutional procedure volumes; however, prior outcomes are more predictive of future outcomes than is prior volume. Given the excellent outcomes observed at many lower-volume hospitals, procedural outcomes may be preferable to procedural volumes as a quality metric.

Posttransplant Long-Term Outcomes for Patients with Ventricular Assist Devices on the Heart Transplant Waitlist.

Ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are commonly used in end-stage heart failure for mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to heart transplantation. However, LVADs' long-term effects on posttransplant survival are unknown. We sought to compare long-term mortality after transplantation for patients with and without LVADs. Using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database, we investigated LVADs' impact on long-term (3 month, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and 8 years) posttransplant mortality risk for all heart transplant recipients between 2010 and 2019. Time-to-event regression analysis quantified mortality risk by LVAD status in both unconditional and conditional survival analyses. Of 20,113 transplant recipients, 8,999 (45%) had a LVAD while on the waitlist. Among those who died after transplantation, patients with LVADs on average died sooner (1.8 years) than patients without LVADs (3.0 years; p < 0.01). On multivariable analysis, patients with LVADs had a 44% higher mortality risk within the first 3 months posttransplant (HR = 1.44, p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in mortality risk between patients who did and did not have pretransplant LVADs after 1, 2, and 5 years of posttransplant conditional survival. While LVAD patients have a survival disadvantage in the first year posttransplant, conditional survival analysis demonstrated no difference in mortality risk between patients with and without LVADs beyond 1 year of follow up. Of the patients who died posttransplant, patients with LVADs on average died sooner than patients without LVADs.

Assessment of Costs and Care Quality Associated With Major Surgical Procedures After Implementation of Maryland's Capitated Budget Model.

Importance: In 2014, Maryland implemented the all-payer model, a distinct hospital funding policy that applied caps on annual hospital expenditures and mandated reductions in avoidable complications. Expansion of this model to other states is currently being considered; therefore, it is important to evaluate whether Maryland's all-payer model is achieving the desired goals among surgical patients, who are an at-risk population for most potentially preventable complications. Objective: To examine the association between the implementation of Maryland's all-payer model and the incidence of avoidable complications and resource use among adult surgical patients. Design, Setting, and Participants: This comparative effectiveness study used hospital discharge records from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project state inpatient databases to conduct a difference-in-differences analysis comparing the incidence of avoidable complications and the intensity of health resource use before and after implementation of the all-payer model in Maryland. The analytical sample included 2 983 411 adult patients who received coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), carotid endarterectomy (CEA), spinal fusion, hip or knee arthroplasty, hysterectomy, or cesarean delivery between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2016, at acute care hospitals in Maryland (intervention state) and New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island (control states). Data analysis was conducted from July 2019 to July 2021. Exposures: All-payer model. Main Outcomes and Measures: Complications (infectious, cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, coagulation, and wound) and health resource use (ie, hospital charges). Results: Of 2 983 411 total patients in the analytical sample, 525 262 patients were from Maryland and 2 458 149 were from control states. Across Maryland and the control states, there were statistically significant but not clinically relevant differences in the preintervention period with regard to patient age (mean [SD], 49.7 [19.0] years vs 48.9 [19.3] years, respectively; P < .001), sex (22.7% male vs 21.4% male; P < .001), and race (0.3% vs 0.4% American Indian, 2.8% vs 4.5% Asian or Pacific Islander, 25.9% vs 12.7% Black, 4.7% vs 11.9% Hispanic, and 63.5% vs 63.4% White; P < .001). After implementation of the all-payer model in Maryland, significantly lower rates of avoidable complications were found among patients who underwent CABG (-11.3%; 95% CI, -13.8% to -8.7%; P < .001), CEA (-1.6%; 95% CI, -2.9% to -0.3%; P = .02), hip arthroplasty (-0.8%; 95% CI, -1.0% to -0.5%; P < .001), knee arthroplasty (-0.4%; 95% CI, -0.7% to -0.1%; P = .01), and cesarean delivery (-1.0%; 95% CI, -1.3% to -0.7%; P < .001). In addition, there were significantly lower increases in index hospital costs in Maryland among patients who underwent CABG (-$6236; 95% CI, -$7320 to -$5151; P < .001), CEA (-$730; 95% CI, -$1367 to -$94; P = .03), spinal fusion (-$3253; 95% CI, -$3879 to -$2627; P < .001), hip arthroplasty (-$328; 95% CI, -$634 to -$21; P = .04), knee arthroplasty (-$415; 95% CI, -$643 to -$187; P < .001), cesarean delivery (-$300; 95% CI, -$380 to -$220; P < .001), and hysterectomy (-$745; 95% CI, -$974 to -$517; P < .001). Significant changes in patient mix consistent with a younger population (eg, a shift toward private/commercial insurance for orthopedic procedures, such as spinal fusion [4.3%; 95% CI, 3.4%-5.2%; P < .001] and knee arthroplasty [1.6%; 95% CI, 1.0%-2.3%; P < .001]) and a lower comorbidity burden across surgical procedures (eg, CABG: -0.7% [95% CI, -0.1% to -0.5%; P < .001]; hip arthroplasty: -3.0% [95% CI, -3.6% to -2.3%; P < .001]) were also observed. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, patients who underwent common surgical procedures had significantly fewer avoidable complications and lower hospital costs, as measured against the rate of increase throughout the study, after implementation of the all-payer model in Maryland. These findings may be associated with changes in the patient mix.

SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccine antibody response and reactogenicity in heart and lung transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: While several studies have observed that solid organ transplant recipients experience diminished antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, data specific to heart and lung transplant (HT/LT) recipients remains sparse. METHODS: US adult HT and LT recipients completed their vaccine series between January 7 and April 10, 2021. Reactogencity and SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody were assessed after a priming dose (D1) and booster dose (D2). Modified Poisson regression with robust variance estimator was used to evaluate associations between participant characteristics and antibody development. RESULTS: Of 134 heart recipients, there were 38% non-responders (D1-/D2-), 48% booster responders (D1-/D2+), and 14% priming dose responders (D1+/D2+). Of 103 lung recipients, 64% were non-responders, 27% were booster responders, and 9% were priming dose responders. Lung recipients were less likely to develop antibodies (p < .001). Priming dose antibody response was associated with younger recipient age (p = .04), transplant-to-vaccination time ≥6 years (p < .01), and lack of anti-metabolite maintenance immunosuppression (p < .001). Pain at injection site was the most commonly reported reaction (85% after D1, 76% after D2). Serious reactions were rare, the most common being fatigue (2% after D1 and 3% after D2). No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: HT and LT recipients experienced diminished antibody response following vaccination; reactogenicity was comparable to that of the general population. LT recipients may exhibit a more impaired antibody response than HT recipients. While current recommendations are to vaccinate eligible candidates and recipients, further studies characterizing the cell-mediated immune response and clinical efficacy of these vaccines in this population are needed.

Better Understanding the Disparity Associated With Black Race in Heart Transplant Outcomes: A National Registry Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Black heart transplant recipients have higher risk of mortality than White recipients. Better understanding of this disparity, including subgroups most affected and timing of the highest risk, is necessary to improve care of Black recipients. We hypothesize that this disparity may be most pronounced among young recipients, as barriers to care like socioeconomic factors may be particularly salient in a younger population and lead to higher early risk of mortality. METHODS: We studied 22 997 adult heart transplant recipients using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from January 2005 to 2017 using Cox regression models adjusted for recipient, donor, and transplant characteristics. RESULTS: Among recipients aged 18 to 30 years, Black recipients had 2.05-fold (95% CI, 1.67-2.51) higher risk of mortality compared with non-Black recipients (P<0.001, interaction P<0.001); however, the risk was significant only in the first year post-transplant (first year: adjusted hazard ratio, 2.30 [95% CI, 1.60-3.31], P<0.001; after first year: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.54-1.29]; P=0.4). This association was attenuated among recipients aged 31 to 40 and 41 to 60 years, in whom Black recipients had 1.53-fold ([95% CI, 1.25-1.89] P<0.001) and 1.20-fold ([95% CI, 1.09-1.33] P<0.001) higher risk of mortality. Among recipients aged 61 to 80 years, no significant association was seen with Black race (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.97-1.29]; P=0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Young Black recipients have a high risk of mortality in the first year after heart transplant, which has been masked in decades of research looking at disparities in aggregate. To reduce overall racial disparities, clinical research moving forward should focus on targeted interventions for young Black recipients during this period.

High rates of de novo malignancy compromise post-heart transplantation survival.

BACKGROUND: Transplant patients are known to have increased risk of developing de novo malignancies (DNMs). As post-transplant survival increases, DNM represents an obstacle to further improving survival. We sought to examine the incidence, types, and risk factors for post-transplant DNM. METHODS: We studied adult heart transplant recipients from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database (1987-2018). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to determine annual probabilities of developing DNM, excluding squamous and basal cell carcinoma. Rates were compared to the general population in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to calculate hazard ratios for risk factors of DNM development, all-cause, and cancer-specific mortality. RESULTS: Over median follow-up of 6.9 years, 18% of the 49,361 patients developed DNM, which correlated with an incidence rate 3.8 times that of the general population. The most common malignancies were lung, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, and prostate. Risk was most increased for female genital, tongue/throat, and renal cancers. Male gender, older age, smoking history, and impaired renal function were risk factors for developing DNM, whereas the use of MMF for immunosuppression was protective. Cigarette use, increasing age, the use of ATG for induction and calcineurin inhibitors for maintenance were risk factors for cancer-specific mortality. The development of a DNM increased the risk of death by 40% (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Heart transplant patients are at increased risk of malignancy, particularly rare cancers, which significantly increases their risk of death. Strict cancer surveillance and attention to immunosuppression are critical for prolonging post-transplant survival.

Evaluation of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy as a Bridging Method.

BACKGROUND: With the implementation of the new heart allocation system, heart transplantation teams are prompted to reevaluate management of patients requiring mechanical circulatory support. The purpose of our study is to compare the outcomes of patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) before transplantation. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for all adult patients (aged 18 years or more) who required support with ECMO before heart transplantation from 2001 to 2018. Patients were stratified into patients who did not require ECMO before transplantation, who were weaned off ECMO before transplantation, who were bridged immediately to transplantation from ECMO, and who were bridged to a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) before transplantation. Demographics and outcomes including 1-year survival, postoperative stroke, postoperative renal failure requiring dialysis, episodes of rejection, and graft failure were compared. RESULTS: Overall, 29,370 patients did not require ECMO before transplantation, 101 patients were weaned off ECMO before transplantation, 118 were bridged from ECMO directly to transplantation, and 55 patients were successfully bridged from ECMO to LVAD before transplantation. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates found a statistically significant decrease in 1-year survival for patients who were bridged from ECMO to transplantation compared with patients who were bridged to LVAD before subsequent transplantation (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests bridging ECMO patients to an LVAD before transplantation will result in improved 1-year survival compared with patients bridged to immediate transplantation. With the new heart allocation system, continued evaluation of outcomes is required to inform management strategies.

An Analysis of Waitlist Inactivity Among Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are commonly used mechanical circulatory support for bridge to transplant therapy in end-stage heart failure; however, it is not understood how VADs influence incidence of waitlist inactive status. We sought to characterize and compare waitlist inactivity among patients with and without VADs. METHODS: Using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database, we investigated the VAD's impact on incidence and length of inactive periods for heart transplant candidates from 2005 through 2018. We compared median length of inactivity between patients with and without VADs and investigated inactivity risk with time-to-event regression models. RESULTS: Among 46,441 heart transplant candidates, 32% (n = 14,636) had a VAD. Thirty-eight percent (n = 17,873) of all patients experienced inactivity, of which 42% (7538/17,873) had a VAD. Median inactivity length was 31 d for patients without VADs and 62 d for VAD patients (P < 0.0005). Multivariable analysis showed no significant difference in risk of inactivity for deteriorating conditions between patients with and without VADs after controlling for demographic and baseline clinical variables. A larger proportion of patients without VADs were inactive for deteriorating conditions than VAD patients (54%, n = 8242/15,221 versus 32%, n = 3583/11,086, P < 0.001). Ten percent (1155/11,086) of VAD patients' inactive periods were for VAD-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Although VAD patients were inactive longer and had an overall increased risk of any-cause inactivity, their risk of inactivity for deteriorating condition was not significantly different from patients without VADs. Furthermore, VAD patients had a smaller proportion of inactivity periods due to deteriorating conditions. Thus, VADs are protective from morbidity for waitlist patients.