Racial and ethnic disparities in access to and utilization of living donor liver transplants.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a comparable alternative to deceased donor liver transplantation and can mitigate the risk of dying while waiting for transplant. Although evidence exists of decreased utilization of living donor kidney transplants among racial minorities, little is known about access to LDLT among racial/ethnic minorities. We used Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing data from February 27, 2002 to June 4, 2014 from all adult liver transplant recipients at LDLT-capable transplant centers to evaluate differential utilization of LDLTs based on race/ethnicity. We then used data from 2 major urban transplant centers to analyze donor inquiries and donor rule-outs based on racial/ethnic determination. Nationally, of 35,401 total liver transplant recipients performed at a LDLT-performing transplant center, 2171 (6.1%) received a LDLT. In multivariate generalized estimating equation models, racial/ethnic minorities were significantly less likely to receive LDLTs when compared to white patients. For cholestatic liver disease, the odds ratios of receiving LDLT based on racial/ethnic group for African American, Hispanic, and Asian patients compared to white patients were 0.35 (95% CI, 0.20-0.60), 0.58 (95% CI, 0.34-0.99), and 0.11 (95% CI, 0.02-0.55), respectively. For noncholestatic liver disease, the odds ratios by racial/ethnic group were 0.53 (95% CI, 0.40-0.71), 0.78 (95% CI, 0.64-0.94), and 0.45 (95% CI, 0.33-0.60) respectively. Transplant center-specific data demonstrated that African American patients received fewer per-patient donation inquiries than white patients, whereas fewer African American potential donors were ruled out for obesity. In conclusion, racial/ethnic minorities receive a disproportionately low percentage of LDLTs, due in part to fewer initial inquiries by potential donors. This represents a major inequality in access to a vital health care resource and demands outreach to both patients and potential donors.

Index Admission Cholecystectomy and Recurrence of Pediatric Gallstone Pancreatitis: Multicenter Cohort Analysis.

BACKGROUND: We aim to evaluate recurrence rates of gallstone pancreatitis in children undergoing early vs interval cholecystectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter, retrospective review of pediatric patients admitted with gallstone pancreatitis from 2010 through 2017 was performed. Children were evaluated based on timing of cholecystectomy. Early cholecystectomy was defined as surgery during the index admission, whereas the delayed group was defined as no surgery or surgery after discharge. Outcomes, recurrence rates, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 246 patients from 6 centers with gallstone pancreatitis, 178 (72%) were female, with mean age 13.5 ± 3.2 years and a mean body mass index of 28.9 ± 15.2. Most (90%) patients were admitted with mild pancreatitis (Atlanta Classification). Early cholecystectomy was performed in 167 (68%) patients with no difference in early cholecystectomy rates across institutions. Delayed group patients weighed less (61 kg vs. 72 kg, p = 0.003) and were younger (12 vs. 14 years, p = 0.001) than those who underwent early cholecystectomy. However, there were no differences in clinical, radiological, or laboratory characteristics between groups. There were 4 (2%) episodes of postoperative recurrent pancreatitis in the early group compared with 22% in the delayed group. More importantly, when cholecystectomy was delayed more than 6 weeks from index discharge, recurrence approached 60%. There were no biliary complications in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Cholecystectomy during the index admission for children with gallstone pancreatitis reduces recurrent pancreatitis. Recurrence proportionally increases with time when patients are treated with a delayed approach.