Overview of global organ donation and transplantation in 2020

Objective At present, the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) pandemic is still raging in certain regions around the globe, and the prevention and control of the pandemic should be strengthened. Under the challenges of respective social environment and allocation of medical resources, and support from the inertia and inherent productivity of the system on which the industry depends, extensive attempts are being delivered to push forward the work of organ donation and transplantation in each country. Under the guidance of national experts and committee members, Shanxi Provincial Human Organ Procurement and Allocation Service Center was established on August 28, 2018 approved by the former Shanxi Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission. It is the only independent non-profit medical institution in Shanxi Province. In this article, the system construction of citizen's organ donation and transplantation fitting national and provincial conditions was further explored according to the data analysis of organ donation and transplantation in the United States and Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the implementation of organ donation work in Shanxi Provincial Human Organ Procurement and Allocation Service Center.Copyright © 2021 The authors.

Impact of COVID-19 on 2020 transplant activity and waiting lists in France

The COVID-19 pandemic strongly affected organ procurement and transplantation in France, despite the intense efforts of all participants in this domain. In 2020, the identification and procurement of deceased donors fell by 12% and 21% respectively, compared with the mean of the preceding 2 years. Similarly, the number of new registrations on the national waiting list declined by 12% and the number of transplants by 24%. The 3-month cumulative incidence of death or drop out for worsening condition of patients awaiting a liver transplant was significantly greater in 2020 compared to the previous 2 years. Continuous monitoring at the national level of early post-transplant outcomes showed no deterioration for any organ in 2020. At the end of 2020, less than 1% of transplant candidates and less than 1% of graft recipients - of any organ - had died of COVID-19.Copyright © 2021 The Author(s)

Care of liver transplant patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: Update of the S1 guideline.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a challenge for the entire health care system, including the care of liver transplant recipients, who represent a vulnerable population. Objective(s): The aim of this work is to provide a practice-oriented review of the updated S1 guideline on the care of liver transplant recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): We summarize the updated guideline (as of 15 June 2022) issued by DGVS ("Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten") and DGAV ("Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie"). Result(s): Liver transplantation programs including evaluation, organ donation, and follow-up should continue during the pandemic, as they represent a life-saving therapeutic option. However, adjustments are possible depending on the pandemic situation. Vaccinations against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) should be carried out according to the STIKO ("Standigen Impfkomission") recommendations, and antibody testing is useful. In case of infection, various therapeutic options are available. Generally, pre-emptive adjustment of immunosuppression due to the pandemic is not recommended, but adjustment of regimens containing mycophenolate mofetil, particularly in case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, may be reasonable. Conclusion(s): Both immunization and the now available antiviral/immunomodulatory therapy improve prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in liver transplant recipients. Early detection through rigorous testing is of paramount. The improved pharmacological options also allow transplantation of positive donors or recipients under careful consideration.Copyright © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.

Results in kidney transplant recipients from cadaveric donors with SARS-CoV-2 infection: A case series in a transplant center in Colombia / Resultados en receptores de trasplante renal de donantes cadavéricos con infección por SARS-CoV-2: Una serie de casos en un centro de trasplante en Colombia

Introducción. La pandemia por COVID-19 ha causado la muerte de 6,5 millones de personas en el mundo y la donación de órganos se ha visto ampliamente afectada, reflejándose en una disminución importante en el número de trasplantes. Colombia no ha sido ajena a dicha problemática. Ante este desafío, el Instituto Nacional de Salud ha permitido tomar donantes cadavéricos con reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcripción reversa (RT-PCR) positiva para Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), sin enfermedad activa. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir una serie de pacientes trasplantados de riñón con donantes cadavéricos con RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 positivo y sus principales desenlaces clínicos. Métodos. Serie de casos de pacientes que fueron llevados a trasplante renal con donante cadavérico con SARS-CoV-2 positivo, sin enfermedad activa, entre mayo y agosto de 2022. Se recolectaron las variables demográficas y clínicas y se evaluó la infección y la mortalidad asociada a SARS-CoV-2 en un mes de seguimiento. Resultados. Un total de 5 receptores de trasplante renal con 5 donantes cadavéricos SARS-CoV-2 positivos fueron evaluados. No se presentó mortalidad ni pérdida del injerto renal. Se registraron dos casos de función retardada del injerto y un caso de rechazo agudo. Ninguno de los pacientes presentó RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 positiva en el seguimiento posterior al trasplante. Conclusión. Con nuestra serie de casos mostramos que el trasplante de riñón proveniente de donante cadavérico con prueba positiva para RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2, sin evidencia de enfermedad COVID-19 activa, es un procedimiento seguro y una estrategia eficaz para aumentar el número de donantes en pandemia

Introduction. Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have caused the death of 6.5 million of people worldwide. The organ donation was extremely affected reflecting in the number of transplants. Colombia has not been immune to this problem. Facing this challenge, the National Institute of Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud, INS) allowed to assign cadaveric donors with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive without COVID-19. We aim to describe a case series of kidney transplant patients with RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 positive cadaveric donors, and their main clinical outcomes. Methods. A case series of five patients who underwent kidney transplantation of cadaveric donors with positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 during the study period from May to august of 2022. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected from the institutional medical records, and we evaluated the mortality and infection associated with SARS-CoV-2. Results. A total of five kidney transplant recipients and five cadaveric donors with positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 were described in the present study. There were not mortality reported and none of the patients had graft loss. Two cases of delayed graft function and one case of acute kidney rejection were documented. None of the patients had positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 in the follow-up. Conclusion. Our series demonstrated that the kidney transplant of cadaveric donors with positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 without clinical evidence of active COVID-19 disease is a safe procedure and an efficient strategy to increase donors during a pandemic

Lung transplantation from controlled donation after circulatory death using simultaneous abdominal normothermic regional perfusion: A single center experience.

Despite the benefits of abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (A-NRP) for abdominal grafts in controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD), there is limited information on the effect of A-NRP on the quality of the cDCD lungs. We aimed to study the effect of A-NRP in lungs obtained from cDCD and its impact on recipients´ outcomes. This is a study comparing outcomes of lung transplants (LT) from cDCD donors (September 2014 to December 2021) obtained using A-NRP as the abdominal preservation method. As controls, all lung recipients transplanted from donors after brain death (DBD) were considered. The primary outcomes were lung recipient 3-month, 1-year, and 5-year survival. A total of 269 LT were performed (60 cDCD and 209 DBD). There was no difference in survival at 3 months (98.3% cDCD vs. 93.7% DBD), 1 year (90.9% vs. 87.2%), and 5 years (68.7% vs. 69%). LT from the cDCD group had a higher rate of primary graft dysfunction grade 3 at 72 h (10% vs. 3.4%; p <  .001). This is the largest experience ever reported with the use of A-NRP combined with lung retrieval in cDCD donors. This combined method is safe for lung grafts presenting short-term survival outcomes equivalent to those transplanted through DBD.

Utilization and outcomes of deceased donor SARS-CoV-2-positive organs for solid organ transplantation in the United States.

Coronavirus disease-19 has had a marked impact on the transplant population and processes of care for transplant centers and organ allocation. Several single-center studies have reported successful utilization of deceased donors with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) tests. Our aims were to characterize testing, organ utilization, and transplant outcomes with donor SARS-CoV-2 status in the United States. We used Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from March 12, 2020 to August 31, 2021 including a custom file with SARS-CoV-2 testing data. There were 35 347 donor specimen SARS-CoV-2 tests, 77.5% upper respiratory samples, 94.6% polymerase chain reaction tests, and 1.2% SARS-CoV-2-positive tests. Donor age, gender, history of hypertension, and diabetes were similar by SARS-CoV-2 status, while positive SARS-CoV-2 donors were more likely African-American, Hispanic, and donors after cardiac death (p-values <.01). Recipient demographic characteristics were similar by donor SARS CoV-2 status. Adjusted donor kidney discard (odds ratio = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66-2.61) was higher for SARS-CoV-2-positive donors while donor liver (odds ratio = 0.44, 95% CI 0.33-0.60) and heart recovery (odds ratio = 0.44, 95% CI 0.31-0.63) were significantly reduced. Overall post-transplant graft survival for kidney, liver, and heart recipients was comparable by donor SARS-CoV-2 status. Cumulatively, there has been significantly lower utilization of SARS-CoV-2 donors with no evidence of reduced recipient graft survival with variations in practice over time.

Transplant program evaluations in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Potential regional variations in effects of COVID-19 on federally mandated, program-specific evaluations by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) have been controversial. SRTR January 2022 program evaluations ended transplant follow-up on March 12, 2020, and excluded transplants performed from March 13, 2020 to June 12, 2020 (the "carve-out"). This study examined the carve-out's impact, and the effect of additionally censoring COVID-19 deaths, on first-year posttransplant outcomes for transplants from July 2018 through December 2020. Program-specific hazard ratios (HRs) for graft failure and death estimated under two alternative scenarios were compared with published HRs: (1) the carve-out was removed; (2) the carve-out was retained, but deaths due to COVID-19 were additionally censored. The HRs estimated by censoring COVID-19 deaths were highly correlated with those estimated with the carve-out alone (r2  = .96). Removal of the carve-out resulted in greater variation in HRs while remaining highly correlated (r2  = .82); however, little geographic impact of the carve-out was observed. The carve-out increased average HR in the Northwest by 0.049; carve-out plus censoring reduced average HR in the Midwest by 0.009. Other regions of the country were not significantly affected. Thus, the current COVID-19 carve-out does not appear to impart substantial bias based on the region of the country.

Caregiver COVID-19 vaccination for solid organ transplant candidates.

An increasing proportion of transplant centers have implemented a mandate for vaccination against COVID-19 for solid organ transplant candidates. There has been comparatively little exploration of the ethical considerations of mandating vaccination of a candidate's primary caregiver, despite a high risk of transmission given the close nature of contact between the candidate and caregiver. We examine how a caregiver mandate can improve overall utility in organ allocation, particularly in circumstances where vaccine effectiveness at preventing transmission and serious disease is low among recipients but high in caregivers. Our analysis reveals how sensitive such mandates must be to the evolving circumstances of disease severity, transmissibility, and vaccine effectiveness: as the facts change, the degree of benefit gained and therefore the degree of infringement on access to transplant and caregiver choice that is tolerated will likewise change.

Validating potential organ and tissue donors in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic: Scoping review and recommendations construction.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the available information to support registered nurses' clinical decisions in assessing and validating potential organ and tissue donors during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This is a scoping review developed in six stages. The sixth stage was developed with registered nurses who work in the Brazil Organ Donation System. To consolidate the information and prepare all assumptions, the legislation in force in Brazil was followed. RESULTS: Recommendations from 19 articles identified in the literature were analyzed; additionally, 52 professionals who work at Brazil Organ Donation System participated in the research. Four care assumptions were formed: investigation of community transmission, investigation of clinical situations, screening for COVID-19 signs and symptoms, and investigation of alterations presented in the physical examination. Such assumptions are formed by 34 care guidelines. DISCUSSION: Care assumptions were prepared to guide and support registered nurses during assessment and validation of potential organ and tissue donors. From this perspective, assumptions certainly promote safety, effectiveness and quality in the service offered during the organ and tissue donation process in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to empowering registered nurses in this scenario. Quality and bio-surveillance through the donation stages have been discussed extensively in recent times, to improve donation and transplantations by valuing care, safety, and quality of life of recipients. CONCLUSION: The care assumptions presented in this study support and subsidize the daily practice of registered nurses who work in assessing and validating potential organ and tissue donors, enabling these professionals to make decisions based on secure information.

Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of COVID 19 Pandemic on Organ Donation and Kidney Transplantation in Latin America.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: COVID-19 pandemics have severely affected Latin America. It has resulted in SARS-CoV-2-associated clinical adverse outcomes, but also in social and economic deterioration. Consequently, it generated a significant negative impact on organ donation and kidney transplantation (KTx) activity in our region, leading to a negative impact on these patients' survival and quality of life. For this reason, this article aimed to describe applicable logistics, organizational and clinical strategies to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on kidney donation and transplantation in our region. RECENT FINDINGS: Absenteeism to hemodialysis sessions in patients with end-stage renal disease has been described in up to 54% in Latin America. Not surprisingly, there was a reduction in organ donation and transplants between 21 and 59%. Also, there is a higher incidence of COVID-19 positive tests in the waiting list population than KTx recipients (9.9%). However, there was a higher mortality rate in KTx recipients than the waiting list population (32%). Additionally, 59% of living donor kidney transplant programs suspended the evaluation of new donors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this manuscript, we summarize some practical tips to resume organ donation and KTx during pandemics in Latin America, such as selecting healthy donors and recipients, universal SARS-CoV-2 screening, implementing COVID-19 accessible pathways, and telehealth as a standard, and postpone all non-urgent visits.

Case report: double lung en bloc procurement from a donor after arterial switch operation.

The growing unmet demand for suitable organ donors increases each year. Despite relative contraindications for thoracic organ donation after previous cardiac surgery, experienced programmes and surgeons can successfully utilise the lungs from select donors who have undergone prior cardiac surgery. This is the first reported case of double lung en bloc procurement from a donor who had a previous arterial switch operation as an infant.

Liver transplantation from active COVID-19 donors: A lifesaving opportunity worth grasping?

COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted transplantation landscape. Scientific societies recommend against the use of donors with active SARS-CoV-2 infection. Italian Transplant Authority recommended to test recipients/donors for SARS-CoV-2-RNA immediately before liver transplant (LT) and, starting from November 2020, grafts from deceased donors with active SARS-CoV-2 infection were allowed to be considered for urgent-need transplant candidates with active/resolved COVID-19. We present the results of the first 10 LTs with active COVID-19 donors within an Italian multicenter series. Only two recipients had a positive molecular test at LT and one of them remained positive up to 21 days post-LT. None of the other eight recipients was found to be SARS-CoV-2 positive during follow-up. IgG against SARS-CoV-2 at LT were positive in 80% (8/10) of recipients, and 71% (5/7) showed neutralizing antibodies, expression of protective immunity related to recent COVID-19. In addition, testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on donors' liver biopsy at transplantation was negative in 100% (9/9), suggesting a very low risk of transmission with LT. Immunosuppression regimen remained unchanged, according to standard protocol. Despite the small number of cases, these data suggest that transplanting livers from donors with active COVID-19 in informed candidates with SARS-CoV-2 immunity, might contribute to safely increase the donor pool.

Validating potential organ and tissue donors in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic: Scoping review and recommendations construction.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the available information to support registered nurses' clinical decisions in assessing and validating potential organ and tissue donors during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This is a scoping review developed in six stages. The sixth stage was developed with registered nurses who work in the Brazil Organ Donation System. To consolidate the information and prepare all assumptions, the legislation in force in Brazil was followed. RESULTS: Recommendations from 19 articles identified in the literature were analyzed; additionally, 52 professionals who work at Brazil Organ Donation System participated in the research. Four care assumptions were formed: investigation of community transmission, investigation of clinical situations, screening for COVID-19 signs and symptoms, and investigation of alterations presented in the physical examination. Such assumptions are formed by 34 care guidelines. DISCUSSION: Care assumptions were prepared to guide and support registered nurses during assessment and validation of potential organ and tissue donors. From this perspective, assumptions certainly promote safety, effectiveness and quality in the service offered during the organ and tissue donation process in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to empowering registered nurses in this scenario. Quality and bio-surveillance through the donation stages have been discussed extensively in recent times, to improve donation and transplantations by valuing care, safety, and quality of life of recipients. CONCLUSION: The care assumptions presented in this study support and subsidize the daily practice of registered nurses who work in assessing and validating potential organ and tissue donors, enabling these professionals to make decisions based on secure information.