Increased volume of organ offers and decreased efficiency of kidney placement under circle-based kidney allocation.

The newest kidney allocation policy kidney allocation system 250 (KAS250) broadened geographic distribution while increasing allocation system complexity. We studied the volume of kidney offers received by transplant centers and the efficiency of kidney placement since KAS250. We identified deceased-donor kidney offers (N = 907,848; N = 36,226 donors) to 185 US transplant centers from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021 (policy implemented March 15, 2021). Each unique donor offered to a center was considered a single offer. We compared the monthly volume of offers received by centers and the number of centers offered before the first acceptance using an interrupted time series approach (pre-/post-KAS250). Post-KAS250, transplant centers received more kidney offers (level change: 32.5 offers/center/mo, P < .001; slope change: 3.9 offers/center/mo, P = .003). The median monthly offer volume post-/pre-KAS250 was 195 (interquartile range 137-253) vs. 115 (76-151). There was no significant increase in deceased-donor transplant volume at the center level after KAS250, and center-specific changes in offer volume did not correlate with changes in transplant volume (r = -0.001). Post-KAS250, the number of centers to whom a kidney was offered before acceptance increased significantly (level change: 1.7 centers/donor, P < .001; slope change: 0.1 centers/donor/mo, P = .014). These findings demonstrate the logistical burden of broader organ sharing, and future allocation policy changes will need to balance equity in transplant access with the operational efficiency of the allocation system.

Disparities in treatment and survival in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in California.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Curative intent therapy is the standard of care for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, these therapies are under-utilized, with several treatment and survival disparities. We sought to demonstrate whether the type of facility and distance from treatment center (with transplant capabilities) contributed to disparities in curative-intent treatment and survival for early-stage HCC in California. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the California Cancer Registry for patients diagnosed with stage I or II primary HCC between 2005 and 2017. Primary and secondary outcomes were receipt of treatment and overall survival, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression and Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate associations. RESULTS: Of 19 059 patients with early-stage HCC, only 36% (6778) received curative-intent treatment. Compared to Non-Hispanic White patients, Hispanic patients were less likely, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients were more likely to receive curative-intent treatment. Our results showed that rural residence, public insurance, lower neighborhood SES, and care at non-National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center were associated with not receiving treatment and decreased survival. CONCLUSIONS: Although multiple factors influence receipt of treatment for early-HCC, our findings suggest that early intervention programs should target travel barriers and access to specialist care to help improve oncologic outcomes.

Regional transplant rates depend more on physician-dependent variables than on proximity to transplant center.

PURPOSE: The objective of this work was to uncover inequalities in access to liver transplantation in Bavaria, Germany. METHODS: For this purpose, the annual transplantation rate per 1 million inhabitants for the respective districts was determined from the aggregated postal codes of the place of residence of transplanted patients. The variables examined were proximity and travel time to the nearest transplant center, as well as the care category of the regional hospital. In addition, we assessed whether the head of gastroenterology at the regional hospital through which liver transplant candidates are referred was trained at a liver transplant center. RESULTS: We could not demonstrate a direct relationship between proximity or travel time to the nearest transplant center and access to liver transplantation. Multivariate regression analysis shows that liver transplant training (p < 0.0001) of the chief physician (gastroenterologist) of the regional hospital was the most decisive independent factor for access to liver transplantation within a district. CONCLUSION: We show that the transplant training experience of the head of gastroenterology at a regional hospital is an independent factor for the regional transplantation rate. Therefore, it appears important to maintain some liver transplant expertise outside the transplant centers in order to properly identify and assign potential transplant candidates for transplantation.

The association of center volume with transplant outcomes in selected high-risk groups in kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: In context of increasing complexity and risk of deceased kidney donors and transplant recipients, the impact of center volume (CV) on the outcomes of high-risk kidney transplants(KT) has not been well determined. METHODS: We examined the association of CV and outcomes among 285 U.S. transplant centers from 2000-2016. High-risk KT were defined as recipient age ≥ 70 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2, receiving kidneys from donors with kidney donor profile index(KDPI) ≥ 85%, acute kidney injury(AKI), hepatitisC + . Average annual CV for the specific-high-risk KT categorized in tertiles. Death-Censored-Graft-Loss(DCGL) and death at 3 months, 1, 5, and 10 years were compared between CV tertiles using Cox-regression models. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty thousand five hundred seventy-four KT were analyzed. Compared to high CV, recipients with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 had higher risk of DCGL in low CV(aHR = 1.11,95%CI = 1.03-1.19) at 10 years; recipients with age ≥ 70 years had higher risk of death in low CV(aHR = 1.07,95%CI = 1.01-14) at 10 years. There was no difference of DCGL or death in low CV for donors with KDPI ≥ 85%, hepatitisC + , or AKI. CONCLUSIONS: Recipients of high-risk KT with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 have higher risk of DCGL and recipients age ≥ 70 years have higher risk of death in low CV, compared to high CV. Future studies should identify care practices associated with CV that support optimal outcomes after KT.

Model for end-stage liver disease-sodium underestimates 90-day mortality risk in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: It is unclear whether the model for end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELD-Na) score captures the clinical severity of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). We compared observed 90-day mortality in patients with ACLF with expected mortality based on the calculated MELD-Na and examined the consequences of underestimating clinical severity. METHODS: We identified patients with ACLF during hospitalization for cirrhosis in 127 VA hospitals between 01/01/2004 and 12/31/2014. We examined MELD-Na scores by ACLF presence and grade. We used actual and observed 90-day mortality to estimate a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) by ACLF presence and grade. We used transplant center-specific median MELD-Na at transplantation (MMaT) to estimate the proportion likely to receive priority for liver transplantation (LT) based on MELD-Na alone. RESULTS: Of 71,894 patients hospitalized for decompensated cirrhosis, 18,979 (26.4%) patients met the criteria for ACLF on admission. The median (P25-P75) MELD-Na on admission was 26 (22-30) for ACLF compared to 15 (12-20) for patients without ACLF; it was 24 (21-27), 27 (23-31), and 32 (26-37) for ACLF-1, 2 and 3, respectively. At 90 days, 40.0% of patients with ACLF died (30.8%, 41.6% and 68.8% with ACLF-1, 2 and 3, respectively) compared to 21.3% of patients without ACLF. Compared to the expected death rate based on MELD-Na, mortality risk was higher for patients with ACLF, SMR (95% CI): 1.52 (1.48-1.52), 1.46 (1.41-1.51), 1.50 (1.44-1.55), 1.66 (1.58-1.74) for overall ACLF, ACLF-1, -2 and -3, respectively. Only 9.1% of patients with ACLF reached the national median MELD-Na of 35 and between 17.3% to 35.1% exceeded the MMaT at any center. During index admission, 589 (0.8%) patients with ACLF were considered for LT evaluation and 16 (0.1%) were listed for LT. CONCLUSIONS: In a US cohort of hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis, MELD-Na did not capture 90-day mortality risk in patients with ACLF. Patients with ACLF are at a disadvantage in the current MELD-Na-based system. LAY SUMMARY: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a condition marked by multiple organ failures in patients with cirrhosis and is associated with a high risk of death. Liver transplantation may be the only curative treatment for these patients. A score called model for end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELD-Na) helps guide donor liver allocation for transplantation in the United States. The higher the MELD-Na score in a patient, the more likely that a patient receives a liver transplant. Our study data showed that MELD-Na score underestimates the risk of dying at 90 days in patients with ACLF. Thus, physicians need to start liver transplant evaluation early instead of waiting for a high MELD-Na number.

Transplant Volume Is Associated With Graft Acceptance Threshold and Center Resource Availability.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplant volume varies significantly among centers. We hypothesized that centers where the transplant team routinely accepts organs previously declined by other centers and where operating room availability is unrestricted have higher transplant volumes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used the potential transplant recipient sequence number in the United Network for Organ Sharing database as a surrogate for graft acceptance threshold and the number of transplantations occurring on weekends and 8 major holidays as a marker of center resource availability. Centers were classified as low-, medium-, or high-volume if the average annual number of transplants were, respectively, <10, 10-30, or >30 over a 10-year period. From July 12, 2006, to December 31, 2015, 19,054 transplants were performed by 142 centers. There were 59 low-volume centers, 69 medium-volume centers, and 14 high-volume centers with median potential transplant recipient sequence numbers for transplanted candidates of 7 (interquartile range 3-11), 7 (5-10), and 15 (7-40), respectively (P = .002). The median proportion of off-hours transplantations performed by medium-volume centers was 28% (25%-31%) compared with 32% (29%-33%) by high-volume centers (P = .009). Five-year survival was equivalent among all centers (P = .053). CONCLUSIONS: Transplants for candidates with high sequence numbers and unrestricted operating room availability are associated with increased center volume without sacrificing post-transplantation survival.

Association of Kidney Transplant Center Volume With 3-Year Clinical Outcomes.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: A robust relationship between procedure volume and clinical outcomes has been demonstrated across many surgical fields. This study assessed whether a center volume-outcome relationship exists for contemporary kidney transplantation, specifically for diabetic recipients, older recipients (aged ≥65 years), and recipients of high kidney donor profile index (KDPI ≥ 85) kidneys. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Adult kidney-only transplant recipients who underwent transplantation between 2009 and 2013 (N = 79,581). EXPOSURES: The primary exposure variable was center volume, categorized into quartiles based on the total kidney transplantation volume. Quartile 1 (Q1) centers performed a mean of fewer than 66 kidney transplantations per year, whereas Q4 centers performed a mean of more than 196 kidney transplantations per year. OUTCOMES: All-cause graft failure and mortality within 3 years of transplantation. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Multivariable Cox frailty models were used to adjust for donor characteristics, recipient characteristics, and cold ischemia time. RESULTS: Minor differences in rates of 3-year deceased donor all-cause graft failure across quartiles of center volume were observed (14.9% for Q1 vs 16.7% for Q4), including in subgroups (diabetic recipients, 18.4% for Q1 vs 19.7% for Q4; older recipients, 19.4% for Q1 vs 22.5% for Q4; recipients of high KDPI kidneys, 26.5% for Q1 vs 26.5% for Q4). Results were similar for 3-year mortality. After adjustment for donor, recipient, and graft characteristics using Cox regression, center volume was not significantly associated with all-cause graft failure or mortality within 3 years, except that diabetic recipients at Q3 centers had slightly lower mortality (compared with Q1 centers, adjusted HR of 0.85 [95% CI, 0.73-0.99]). LIMITATIONS: Potential unmeasured confounding from patient comorbid conditions and organ selection. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide little evidence that care in higher volume centers is associated with better adjusted outcomes for kidney transplant recipients, even in populations anticipated to be at increased risk for graft failure or death.

Transcendental Spirituality and Acquaintance With the Activities of the Domestic National Transplant Center as Factors Shaping Attitudes Toward Organ Donation.

CONTEXT: Organ donation has been shown to be perceived as inappropriate by religiously observant individuals. The impact of spirituality level on attitudes toward organ donation has not been broadly explored. OBJECTIVE: To explore the contribution of ethnicity, spirituality, level of religious observance, and acquaintance with the activities of the Israel National Transplant Center (INTC) to forming attitudes toward organ donation among Jews and Muslim Arabs in Israel. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred five (65.2%) Jewish and 163 (34.8%) Muslim Arab respondents living in Israel. RESULTS: Jewish respondents had more positive attitudes toward organ donation than Muslim Arabs. Muslim Arabs had a higher mean spirituality score than Jews. Gender, age, ethnicity, level of religious observance, education, 4 spirituality dimensions, and acquaintance with the activities of the INTC explained 41.5% of the variance in attitudes to organ donation. Transcendental spirituality, acquaintance with the activities of the INTC, and level of religious observance had the highest contribution to explaining attitudes to organ donation, while gender and age had a low contribution. Ethnicity, education, and the 3 other spirituality dimensions were not found to have a significant contribution. CONCLUSION: A multifaceted approach to improving attitudes toward organ donation among Jews and Muslim Arabs in Israel is important.

The impact of time from ILD diagnosis to referral to the transplant center on the probability of inclusion in the transplant waiting list.

BACKGROUND: Lung transplant is a therapeutic option for patients with progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether time from ILD diagnosis to referral to a transplant center influences the probability of being included in the transplant waiting list. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study including all ILD patients evaluated as lung transplantation (LT) candidates at a lung transplant center between 01/01/2017 and 31/12/2022. The primary endpoint was the probability of being included in the lung transplant waiting list according to the time elapsed from diagnosis to referral to the transplant center. RESULTS: A total of 843 lung transplant requests were received, of which 367 (43.5%) were associated with ILD. Thirteen patients were excluded because they did not attend the first visit, whereas another 11 were excluded because some information was missing. As a result, our final sample was composed of 343 patients. The median time from diagnosis to referral was 29.4 (10.9 - 61.1) months. The overall probability of inclusion in the waiting list was 29.7%. By time from diagnosis to referral, the probability of inclusion in the waiting list was 48.1% for the patients referred 〈 6 months from diagnosis; 27.5% for patients referred 6 to 24 months from diagnosis; and 25.8% for patients referred 〉 24 months from diagnosis (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Early referral to a lung transplant center seemed to increase the probability of being included in the lung transplant waiting list. Further research is needed in this topic.

Forging international collaboration and alliances to establish the largest transplant center in the north of Vietnam.

Through collaboration with international experts, our institution established a highly active and successful hematopoietic stem cell transplant program, providing access to this potentially curative treatment modality for patients with a variety of benign and malignant hematological diseases. The initial development of an autologous stem cell transplant program provided our institution with the infrastructure, equipment, and expertise needed for the subsequent development of an allogeneic stem cell transplant program. Key transplant staff received training from international transplant experts at the NHLBI/NIH, the Mayo Clinic, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Nagoya Japan, providing them with the expertise to conduct a variety of different transplant approaches, including PBSC transplants from HLA-matched relatives, unrelated cord blood transplants, haploidentical transplants, and CD34 selected stem cell transplants. Patient characteristics were varied among all groups. The number of allogeneic and autologous transplants performed at the NIHBT has increased steadily every year since the initiation of our transplant program. By 2022, 547 transplant procedures had been performed, including 268 autologous and 279 allogeneic transplants. Allogeneic transplants were performed for both malignant and nonmalignant hematological diseases, with acute leukemia (AL) being the most common indication for allogeneic HCT. The majority of recipients undergoing allogeneic transplantation received G-CSF mobilized PBSC allografts from either HLA identical or haplo-identical relatives, with a smaller percentage of patients receiving a UCB transplant or a PBSC allograft that had been CD34+ selected. Amongst the 279 recipients of an allogeneic transplant, mortality rates within day 100 and beyond day 100 were 12.6% and 26.2% respectively. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival at 5 years in benign and malignant subgroups were 81% and 73% vs 52% and 48% respectively. Through collaboration with international transplant experts, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi has stood up the most active transplant center in the northern region of Vietnam. Patients coming from low-income financial backgrounds are now able to receive a variety of different state-of-the-art transplant approaches that are affordable and have been associated with excellent long-term outcomes.

Emergent prelabor cesarean delivery in solid organ transplant recipients: associated risk factors and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancies after solid organ transplant are at a higher risk of antepartum admission and pregnancy complications including cesarean delivery. Emergent prelabor cesarean delivery is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity in other high-risk populations, but its incidence and impact in transplant recipients is not well-understood. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the risk factors and outcomes of emergency prelabor cesarean delivery in kidney and liver transplant recipients. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of all kidney and liver transplant recipients at >20 weeks gestation enrolled in the Transplant Pregnancy Registry International between 1976 and 2019. Participants admitted antepartum who required emergency prelabor cesarean delivery were compared with those admitted antepartum who underwent nonemergent birth. The primary outcomes were severe maternal morbidity and neonatal composite morbidity. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted for neonatal composite morbidity. RESULTS: Of 1979 births, 181 pregnancies (188 neonates) with antepartum admission were included. 51 pregnancies (53 neonates, 28%) were delivered by emergent prelabor cesarean delivery compared with 130 pregnancies (135 neonates, 72%) admitted antepartum who subsequently did not require emergent delivery. The most common indication for emergent delivery was nonreassuring fetal heart tracing (44 pregnancies /51 emergent deliveries = 86%). Pregnant people who underwent emergent prelabor cesarean delivery were less likely to deliver at a transplant center (37.3% vs 41.5%; P=.04) and had increased rates of chronic hypertension (33.3% vs 16.2%; P=.02). There was no significant difference in severe maternal morbidity (3.9% vs 4.6%; P=.84), though there was an increase in surgical site infection in the emergent prelabor cesarean delivery cohort (3.9% vs 0%; P=.02). Among those with emergent prelabor cesarean delivery, there was a significant increase in neonatal composite morbidity (43.4% vs 19.3%; P<.001) with earlier gestational age at delivery (33.4 vs 34.7 weeks; P=.02), lower birthweight (1899 g vs 2321 g; P<.001), lower birthweight percentile (30.3% vs 40.6%; P=.03), increased neonatal intensive care unit admission (52.8% vs 35.6%; P=.03), and increased neonatal mortality (11.3% vs 1.5%; P=.002). After adjusting for year of conception, race, hypertensive disorders, and fetal malformations, there was a persistent increased risk of neonatal morbidity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-6.08; P=.002) associated with emergent prelabor cesarean delivery after transplant. CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of kidney and liver transplant recipients admitted antepartum had an emergency prelabor cesarean delivery, and 63% of this cohort delivered outside of a transplant center. Pregnancies after transplantation should involve multidisciplinary transplant-obstetrics collaboration to ensure optimal antepartum disease management, especially for preexisting hypertension, to prevent and mitigate obstetrical and neonatal morbidity in the setting of emergent cesarean delivery.

Colorectal Resection in Transplant Centers Benefits Kidney But Not Pancreas Transplant Recipients.

As graft and patient survival rates improve, transplant recipients are likely to undergo colorectal surgery in their lifetime. Current literature on the surgical outcomes of colorectal resection in kidney and pancreas transplant recipients is sparse. This investigation identifies areas of surgical risk for kidney, pancreas, and pancreas-kidney transplant recipients undergoing colorectal resection at transplant and teaching centers. Multivariate logistic regression and linear regression tests computed odds ratios (OR) and coefficients of the linear regression using National Inpatient Sample data from 2005 to 2014 to identify differences in mortality, morbidity, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges among people with pancreas transplant alone (PTx), kidney transplant alone (KTx), pancreas and kidney transplant (PKTx), and nontransplant (non-Tx) undergoing colorectal resection in transplant and teaching centers. Of the 2,737,454 individuals who underwent colorectal resection, 138 PTx, 3,874 KTx, 130 PKTx, and 2,733,312 non-Tx met the inclusion criteria. Overall KTx, PTx, and PKTx were not more likely to suffer a mortality. However, PTx were more likely to suffer a mortality in transplant and teaching centers. Overall, PTx and PKTx had significantly higher morbidity odds ratios (PTx OR: 2.268, p = 0.002; PKTx OR: 2.578, p < 0.001) along with longer LOS and higher total hospital charges. KTx incurred no increased morbidity risk in transplant centers. Surgeons and transplant recipients should be aware of the increased morbidity and mortality risks when considering colorectal resection at different center types.

Post Liver Transplantation Survival and Related Prognostic Factors among Adult Recipients in Tehran Liver Transplant Center; 2002-2019.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is a standard treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). However, with increasing demand for this treatment and limited resources, it is available only to patients who are more likely to survive. The primary aim was to determine prognostic factors for survival. METHODS: We collected data from 597 adult patients with ESLD, who received a single organ and initial orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in our center between 20 March 2008 and 20 March 2018. In this historical cohort study, univariate and multiple Cox model were used to determine prognostic factors of survival after transplantation. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 825 (0-3889) days, 111 (19%) patients died. Survival rates were 88%, 85%, 82% and 79% at 90 days, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. Older patients (HR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01-1.59), presence of pre-OLT ascites (HR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.16-3.57), pre-OLT hospitalization (HR = 1.88; 95% CI:1.02-3.46), longer operative time (HR = 1.006; 95% CI: 1.004-1.008), post-OLT dialysis (HR = 3.51; 95% CI: 2.07-5.94), cancer (HR = 2.69; 95% CI: 1.23-5.89) and AID (HR = 2.04; 95% CI: 1.17-3.56) as underlying disease versus hepatitis, and higher pre-OLT creatinine (HR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.10-2.52) were associated with decreased survival. CONCLUSION: In this center, not only are survival outcomes excellent, but also younger patients, cases with better pre-operative health conditions, and those without complications after OLT have superior survival.

Variation of ApoL1 Testing Practices for Living Kidney Donors.

INTRODUCTION: Tests exist for ApoL1 genetic variants to determine whether a potential donor's kidneys are at increased risk of kidney failure. Variants of the ApoL1 gene associated with increased risk are primarily found in people with West African ancestry. Given uncertainty about clinical implications of ApoL1 test results for living kidney donors and recipients and the lack of uniform guidelines for ApoL1 testing, transplant centers across the United States vary in ApoL1 testing practices. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: (1) What approach do transplant centers take to determine whether prospective donors are of West African ancestry? (2)How do transplant centers engage potential donors during the ApoL1 testing process? (3) What do transplant centers identify as concerns and barriers to ApoL1 testing? and (4) What actions do transplant centers take when a potential donor has 2 ApoL1 risk variants? DESIGN: We explored the current practices of transplant centers by surveying nephrologists and transplant surgeons at transplant centers evaluating the majority of black living donors in the United States. RESULTS: About half of these transplant centers offered ApoL1 testing. Of those who offered ApoL1 testing, only half involved the donor in decision-making about donation when the donor has 2 risk variants. DISCUSSION: Unaddressed differences in the priorities of transplant centers and black living donors may stigmatize black donors and undermine trust in the health-care and organ donation systems. Variation in transplant center testing practices points to the critical need for further research and community engagement to inform the development of guidelines for ApoL1 testing.

[Editorial].

The main objective of the Italian National Transplant Center (CNT) is to increase the number, the quality and the safety of transplants by promoting special programs in cooperation with Italian Regions. Data show that the number of deceased subjects that are reported for organ or tissue donation is largely lower than it could potentially be, and that great variations exist among different Regions. In order to increase the number of performed transplants, the CNT is planning to move in three main directions: (1) promoting transplants from deceased donors, (2) promoting transplants from living donors and (3) optimising the way organs are stored, distributed and utilised across the country.

Understanding of Brain Death Among Health-Care Professionals at a Transplant Center.

INTRODUCTION: There is considerable variation in brain death understanding and policies between medical institutions, however, studies have not yet compared different health-care professionals working in the same hospital. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: The overall aim of this study was to evaluate understanding of brain death among health-care professionals within intensive care units (ICUs) at a single institution. DESIGN: Study participants included 217 attending physicians, residents, nurses, medical students, and other ICU team members in 6 ICUs. Participants completed a 21-question survey pertaining to knowledge of brain death and related institutional policies as well as opinions about brain death. RESULTS: We found a wide range of brain death understanding among health-care professionals in ICUs. Attending physicians have the greatest understanding (94.7%), followed by nurses (72.4%). In contrast, approximately half of the students and residents do not have a basic understanding of brain death. Brain death understanding was correlated to health-care role, years of experience, and whether the participant had formal training in brain death. Although most participants had been involved in cases of brain death, a much smaller number had received formal training on death by neurological criteria. DISCUSSION: The present study observed a paucity of clinical training in brain death among health-care professionals in the study ICUs. There is an opportunity for improved clinical education on brain death that could improve communication with families about brain death and potentially increase the number of organs transplanted.

Hospital characteristics associated with increased conversion rates among organ donors in New England.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether hospital characteristics affect institutional performance with regard to organ donation. We sought to determine which hospital- and patient-level characteristics are associated with high organ donor conversion rates after brain death (DBD). METHODS: Data were extracted from the regional Organ Procurement Organization (2011-2014) and other sources. Hospitals were stratified into high-conversion hospitals (HCH; upper-tertile) and low-conversion hospitals (LCH; lower-tertile) according to conversion rates. Hospital- and patient-characteristics were compared between groups. RESULTS: There were 564 potential DBD donors in 27 hospitals. Conversion rates differed between hospitals in different states (p < 0.001). HCH were more likely to be small (median bed size 194 vs. 337; p = 0.024), non-teaching hospitals (40% vs. 88%; p = 0.025), non-trauma center (30% vs. 77%; p = 0.040). Potential donors differed between HCH and LCH in race (p < 0.01) and mechanism of injury/disease process (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There is significant variation between hospitals in terms of organ donor conversion rates. This suggests that there is a pool of potential donors in large specialized hospitals that are not successfully converted to DBD.

Referral to transplant center for hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation is a complex and highly specialized medical procedure offered by selected centers with the requisite expertise and resources. Timely referral to a transplant center is among the most important determinants of successful outcomes. Patients, providers, and payors consider several factors in selecting a transplant center, such as center outcomes and accreditation, patient health insurance coverage, geographic location and accessibility, availability of ancillary and support services, and coordination of care after discharge from the transplant center. Ongoing evaluation and research is needed to advise optimal care models for timely referral to a transplant center and transition of care from the transplant center back to the referring physician.

Institutional volume of heart transplantation with left ventricular assist device explantation influences graft survival.

BACKGROUND: There are increasing numbers of patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) explantation (LVAD explant-OHT). We hypothesized that LVAD explant-OHT is a more challenging surgical procedure compared to OHT without LVAD explantation and that institutional LVAD explant-OHT procedural volume would be associated with post-transplant graft survival. We sought to assess the impact of institutional volume of LVAD explant-OHT on post-transplant graft survival. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for adult OHTs with long-term LVAD explantation. LVAD explant-OHT volume was characterized on the basis of the center's year-specific total OHT volume (OHTvol) and year-specific LVAD explant-OHT volume quartile (LVADvolQ). The effect of LVADvolQ on graft survival (death or re-transplantation) was analyzed. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2011, 2,681 patients underwent OHT with LVAD explantation (740 with HeartMate XVE, 1,877 with HeartMate II and 64 with HeartWare devices). LVAD explant-OHT at centers falling in the lowest LVADvolQ was associated with reduced post-transplant graft survival (p = 0.022). After adjusting for annualized OHTvol (HR = 0.998, 95% CI 0.993 to 1.003, p = 0.515 and pulsatile XVE (HR = 0.842, 95% CI 0.688 to 1.032, p = 0.098), multivariate analysis confirmed a significantly (approximately 37%) increased risk of post-transplant graft failure among explant-OHT procedures occurring at centers in the lowest volume quartile (HR = 1.371, 95% CI 1.030 to 1.825, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: Graft survival is decreased when performed at centers falling in the lowest quartile of LVAD explant-OHT for a given year. This volume-survival relationship should be considered in the context of limited donor organ availability and the rapidly growing number of LVAD centers.