The effect of an organ procurement organization surgeon on pediatric organ utilization.

INTRODUCTION: Organ procurement organizations (OPO) have started to employ transplant-trained surgeons dedicated to organ procurement with the aim to increase allograft utilization and enhance the use of procured organs. We investigated the effects of an OPO-employed surgeon on the procurement and utilization of organs from pediatric donors within the Southwestern Transplant Alliance OPO. METHODS: OPO data were obtained for all procurements that were performed between 2014 and 2019. The analysis was performed to see if the presence of an OPO donor surgeon impacted the utilization of pediatric livers. Donor and recipient demographic data were examined between allografts procured with the presence of an OPO surgeon (OPO-Present) and those without an OPO surgeon (OPO-Absent). A p-value of <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Of 149 pediatric procurements, 91 included an OPO-donor surgeon. In procurements with OPO-Present, donors were younger (8.2 vs. 11.2, p < .05) and had longer distances to travel to the recipient center (334 vs. 175 miles p < .05), but had comparable cold ischemic times. In terms of organ share type, more OPO-Present livers were shared nationally and there was no difference in discard rate between OPO-Present and OPO-Absent procurements. Finally, OPO-Present livers were more likely to be transplanted to pediatric recipients compared to OPO-Absent (47.3% vs. 24.1% p < .05). CONCLUSION: The presence of an OPO surgeon has impacted organ utilization, leading to increased transplantation of pediatric livers in pediatric recipients, and has expanded the geographical share of pediatric livers.

Delayed graft function in pediatric living donor kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric recipients of living donor kidneys have a low rate of delayed graft function (DGF). We examined the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of DGF in pediatric patients who received a living donor allograft. METHODS: The STARfile was queried to examine all pediatric patients transplanted with a living donor kidney between 2000 and 2020. Donor and recipient demographic data were examined, as were survival and outcomes. Recipients were stratified into DGF and no DGF groups. DGF was defined as the need for dialysis within the first week after transplant. RESULTS: 6480 pediatric patients received a living donor (LD) kidney transplant during the study period. 269 (4.2%) developed DGF post-transplant. Donors were similar in age, creatinine, and cold ischemia time. Recipients of kidneys with DGF were similar in age, sensitization status and HLA mismatch. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was the most common diagnosis in recipients with DGF, and allograft thrombosis was the most common cause of graft loss in this group. Small recipients (weight < 15 kg) were found to have a significantly higher rate of DGF. Length of stay doubled in recipients with DGF, and rejection rates were higher post-transplant. Recipients of LD kidneys who developed DGF had significantly worse 1 year allograft survival (67% vs. 98%, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric living donor kidney transplant recipients who experience DGF have significantly poorer allograft survival. Optimizing the donor and recipient matching to avoid compounding risks may allow for better outcomes.

Short-term kidney transplant outcomes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 lower respiratory tract positive donors.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to assess short-term allograft outcomes following deceased donor kidney transplantation from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lower respiratory tract (LRT) nucleic acid testing (NAT) positive donors. METHODS: From September to December 2021, SARS-CoV-2 NAT positive organ donors, whose solid abdominal organs were transplanted at our academic medical center were identified. Donors were stratified into having tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in an upper respiratory tract (URT) or LRT sample. For this study, the SARS-CoV-2 LRT NAT positive deceased kidney donors and their respective recipients were examined. Donor and recipient demographic data, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related history, patient outcomes, as well as postoperative graft function were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen SARS-CoV-2 positive deceased donors were identified. Of these, eight were LRT NAT positive and yielded nine kidneys. These allografts were successfully transplanted into vaccinated and unvaccinated recipients. All recipients received standard induction immunosuppression and did not receive any prophylactic therapy for SARS-CoV-2. Two recipients had delayed graft function. At 1-month post-transplant, there was no clinical evidence of donor-derived COVID-19 or graft loss, and all recipients were free from dialysis. CONCLUSION: We describe the first case series of SARS-CoV-2 LRT NAT positive deceased kidney donors for vaccinated and unvaccinated recipients with excellent short-term allograft outcomes and no clinical evidence of donor-derived COVID-19 post-transplantation. Given the increasing prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the population, utilization of SARS-CoV-2 LRT NAT positive deceased donors could be considered an acceptable source of organs for renal transplantation, especially as multi-center experiences and longer-term follow-up emerge.

The impact of a rapid imaging protocol in acute cholecystitis-prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we assess the impact of a "rapid imaging protocol" (RIP) on outcomes in patients with suspected acute cholecystitis (AC). METHODS: From January 2017 to January 2018, a prospective cohort study was implemented using a RIP with hepatoscintigraphy (HIDA) or CT scan (first available, goal within 4 h) in patients (n = 52) presenting with highly suspected AC and a clinical feature score of ≥1. For the latter, the following presenting features were scored as follows: 1 point for WBC count ≥10,000 (109/L), 1.5 points for glucose ≥140 (mg/dl), and/or 1 point for age ≥50 yrs. The historical control was all patients admitted with suspected AC in a 1.5-year period (n = 117) under our previous "delayed imaging protocol" (DIP), which used US ± HIDA (post-admission) in select patients. Primary end points included: compare outcome and quality measures between the groups, evaluate diagnostic imaging performance for AC, and evaluate our proposed clinical feature score in the setting of AC. RESULTS: Histopathologic features consistent with AC was more frequent in patients in the RIP (64% vs 39%, p = 0.008). The pooled positive predictive value of HIDA and CT scan for AC were 85% vs 94%, respectively. The RIP was associated with a significant reduction in time to surgery, length of stay, and conversions to open (p < 0.001, respectively). A clinical feature score of 3.5 predicted the likelihood of AC in 95% of the cases (x2 for linear trend = 42, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A protocol centered around rapid identification, defined clinical criteria (i.e. clinical feature score), and confirmation with non-user dependent imaging modalities has resulted in favorable outcomes. CT may be the study of choice when the likelihood of AC is high because it is superior at identifying severity.