Modified Langendorff Perfusion Method for Extended Perfusion Times of Rodent Cardiac Grafts.

Despite important advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the field is in urgent need of increased research and scientific advancement. As a result, innovation, improvement and/or repurposing of the available research toolset can provide improved testbeds for research advancement. Langendorff perfusion is an extremely valuable research technique for the field of CVD research that can be modified to accommodate a wide array of experimental needs. This tailoring can be achieved by personalizing a large number of perfusion parameters, including perfusion pressure, flow, perfusate, temperature, etc. This protocol demonstrates the versatility of Langendorff perfusion and the feasibility of achieving longer perfusion times (4 h) without graft function loss by utilizing lower perfusion pressures (30-35 mmHg). Achieving extended perfusion times without graft damage and/or function loss caused by the technique itself has the potential to eliminate confounding elements from experimental results. In effect, in scientific circumstances where longer perfusion times are relevant to the experimental needs (i.e., drug treatments, immunological response analysis, gene editing, graft preservation, etc.), lower perfusion pressures can be key for scientific success.

The Public Health Service "Increased Risk" 2020 Policy Change Has not Improved Organ Utilization in the United States: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess the effects of the 2020 United States Public Health Service (PHS) "Increased Risk" Guidelines update. Background: Donors labeled as "Increased Risk" for transmission of infectious diseases have been found to have decreased organ utilization rates despite no significant impact on recipient survival. Recently, the PHS provided an updated guideline focused on "Increased Risk" organ donors, which included the removal of the "Increased Risk" label and the elimination of the separate informed consent form, although the actual increased risk status of donors is still ultimately transmitted to transplant physicians. We sought to analyze the effect of this update on organ utilization rates. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database which compared donor organ utilization in the 2 years before the June 2020 PHS Guideline update for increased-risk donor organs (June 2018-May 2020) versus the 2 years after the update (August 2020-July 2022). The organ utilization rate for each donor was determined by dividing the number of organs transplanted by the total number of organs available for procurement. Student t test and multivariable logistic regression models were used for analysis. Results: There were 17,272 donors in the preupdate cohort and 17,922 donors in the postupdate cohort; of these, 4,977 (28.8%) and 3,893 (21.7%) donors were considered "Increased Risk", respectively. There was a 2% decrease in overall organ utilization rates after the update, driven by a 3% decrease in liver utilization rates and a 2% decrease in lung utilization rates. After multivariable adjustment, donors in the postupdate cohort had 10% decreased odds of having all organs transplanted. Conclusions: The 2020 PHS "Increased Risk" Donor Guideline update was not associated with an increase in organ utilization rates in the first 2 years after its implementation, despite a decrease in the proportion of donors considered to be at higher risk. Further efforts to educate the community on the safe usage of high-risk organs are needed and may increase organ utilization.

Tracheostomy is associated with decreased vasoactive-inotropic score in postoperative cardiac surgery patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Objective: We sought to quantify the influence that tracheostomy placement has on the hemodynamic stability of postoperative cardiac surgery patients with persistent ventilatory requirements. Methods: A retrospective, single-center, and observational analysis of postoperative cardiac surgery patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation who underwent tracheostomy placement from 2018 to 2022 was conducted. Patients were excluded if receiving mechanical circulatory support or if they had an unrelated significant complication 3 days surrounding tracheostomy placement. Vasoactive and inotropic requirements were quantified using the Vasoactive-Inotrope Score. Results: Sixty-one patients were identified, of whom 58 met inclusion criteria. The median vasoactive-inotrope score over the 3 days before tracheostomy compared with 3 days after decreased from 3.35 days (interquartile range, 0-8.79) to 0 days (interquartile range, 0-7.79 days) (P = .027). Graphic representation of this trend demonstrates a clear inflection point at the time of tracheostomy. Also, after tracheostomy placement, fewer patients were on vasoactive/inotropic infusions (67.2% [n = 39] pre vs 24.1% [n = 14] post; P < .001) and sedative infusions (62.1% [n = 36] pre vs 27.6% [n = 16] post; P < .001). The percent of patients on active mechanical ventilation did not differ. Conclusions: The median vasoactive-inotrope score in cardiac surgery patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation was significantly reduced after tracheostomy placement. There was also a significant reduction in the number of patients on vasoactive/inotropic and sedative infusions 3 days after tracheostomy. These data suggest that tracheostomy has a positive effect on the hemodynamic stability of patients after cardiac surgery and should be considered to facilitate postoperative recovery.

Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Single Lung Transplantation.

A 72-year-old man with interstitial lung disease underwent a planned single lung transplantation. His late postoperative course was notable for hemodynamic deterioration, after which severe right pulmonary vein anastomotic stenosis was identified via echocardiogram. The case highlights a rare complication of lung transplantation diagnosed by using transesophageal echocardiogram.

Vasoplegic syndrome during heart transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vasoplegic syndrome (VS) is a common occurrence during heart transplantation (HT). It currently lacks a uniform definition between transplant centers, and its pathophysiology and treatment remain enigmatic. This systematic review summarizes the available published clinical data regarding VS during HT. METHODS: We searched databases for all published reports on VS during HT. Data collected included the incidence of VS in the HT population, patient and intraoperative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-two publications were included in this review. The prevalence of VS during HT was 28.72% (95% confidence interval: 27.37%, 30.10%). Factors associated with VS included male sex, higher body mass index, hypothyroidism, pre-HT left ventricular assist device or venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), pre-HT calcium channel blocker or amiodarone usage, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, and higher blood product transfusion requirement. Patients who developed VS were more likely to require postoperative VA-ECMO support, renal replacement therapy, reoperation for bleeding, longer mechanical ventilation, and a greater 30-day and 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our systematic review are an initial step for providing clinicians with data that can help identify high-risk patients and avenues for potential risk mitigation. Establishing guidelines that officially define VS will aid in the precise diagnosis of these patients during HT and guide treatment. Future studies of treatment strategies for refractory VS are needed in this high-risk patient population.

A Pilot Study Using Machine Learning Algorithms and Wearable Technology for the Early Detection of Postoperative Complications After Cardiothoracic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a machine learning algorithm (i.e. the "NightSignal" algorithm) can be used for the detection of postoperative complications prior to symptom onset after cardiothoracic surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Methods that enable the early detection of postoperative complications after cardiothoracic surgery are needed. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted from July 2021 to February 2023 at a single academic tertiary care hospital. Patients aged 18 years or older scheduled to undergo cardiothoracic surgery were recruited. Study participants wore a Fitbit watch continuously for at least 1 week preoperatively and up to 90-days postoperatively. The ability of the NightSignal algorithm-which was previously developed for the early detection of Covid-19-to detect postoperative complications was evaluated. The primary outcomes were algorithm sensitivity and specificity for postoperative event detection. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery met inclusion criteria, of which 24 (42.9%) underwent thoracic operations and 32 (57.1%) underwent cardiac operations. The median age was 62 (IQR: 51-68) years and 30 (53.6%) patients were female. The NightSignal algorithm detected 17 of the 21 postoperative events a median of 2 (IQR: 1-3) days prior to symptom onset, representing a sensitivity of 81%. The specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of the algorithm for the detection of postoperative events were 75%, 97%, and 28%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning analysis of biometric data collected from wearable devices has the potential to detect postoperative complications-prior to symptom onset-after cardiothoracic surgery.

Enhanced recovery protocols after surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Previous meta-analyses combining randomized and observational evidence in cardiac surgery have shown positive impact of enhanced recovery protocols after surgery (ERAS) on postoperative outcomes. However, definitive data based on randomized studies are missing, and the entirety of the ERAS measures and pathway, as recently systematized in guidelines and consensus statements, have not been captured in the published studies. The available literature actually focuses on "ERAS-like" protocols or only limited number of ERAS measures. This study aims at analyzing all randomized studies applying ERAS-like protocols in cardiac surgery for perioperative outcomes. METHODS: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ERAS-like with standard protocols of perioperative care was performed (PROSPERO registration CRD42021283765). PRISMA guidelines were used for abstracting and assessing data. RESULTS: Thirteen single center RCTs (N = 1704, 850 in ERAS-like protocol and 854 in the standard care group) were selected. The most common procedures were surgical revascularization (66.3%) and valvular surgery (24.9%). No difference was found in the incidence of inhospital mortality between the ERAS and standard treatment group (risk ratio [RR] 0.61 [0.31; 1.20], p = 0.15). ERAS was associated with reduced intensive care unit (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.57, p < 0.01) and hospital stay (SMD -0.23, p < 0.01) and reduced rates of overall complications when compared to the standard protocol (RR 0.60, p < 0.01) driven by the reduction in stroke (RR 0.29 [0.13; 0.62], p < 0.01). A significant heterogeneity in terms of the elements of the ERAS protocol included in the studies was observed. CONCLUSIONS: ERAS-like protocols have no impact on short-term survival after cardiac surgery but allows for a faster hospital discharge while potentially reducing surgical complications. However, this study highlights a significant nonadherence and heterogeneity to the entirety of ERAS protocols warranting further RCTs in this field including a greater number of elements of the framework.

One Year Outcomes Following Transplantation with COVID-19-Positive Donor Hearts: A National Database Cohort Study.

The current understanding of the safety of heart transplantation from COVID-19+ donors is uncertain. Preliminary studies suggest that heart transplants from these donors may be feasible. We analyzed 1-year outcomes in COVID-19+ donor heart recipients using 1:3 propensity matching. The OPTN database was queried for adult heart transplant recipients between 1 January 2020 and 30 September 2022. COVID-19+ donors were defined as those who tested positive on NATs or antigen tests within 21 days prior to procurement. Multiorgan transplants, retransplants, donors without COVID-19 testing, and recipients allocated under the old heart allocation system were excluded. A total of 7211 heart transplant recipients met the inclusion criteria, including 316 COVID-19+ donor heart recipients. Further, 290 COVID-19+ donor heart recipients were matched to 870 COVID-19- donor heart recipients. Survival was similar between the groups at 30 days (p = 0.46), 6 months (p = 0.17), and 1 year (p = 0.07). Recipients from COVID-19+ donors in the matched cohort were less likely to experience postoperative acute rejection prior to discharge (p = 0.01). National COVID-19+ donor heart usage varied by region: region 11 transplanted the most COVID-19+ hearts (15.8%), and region 6 transplanted the fewest (3.2%). Our findings indicate that COVID-19+ heart transplantation can be performed with safe early outcomes. Further analyses are needed to determine if long-term outcomes are equivalent between groups.

Acute rejection in donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplants.

BACKGROUND: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart transplantation has promising early survival, but the effects on rejection remain unclear. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for adult heart transplants from December 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021. Multiorgan transplants and loss to follow-up were excluded. The primary outcome was acute rejection, comparing DCD and donation after brain death (DBD) transplants. RESULTS: A total of 292 DCD and 5,582 DBD transplants met study criteria. Most DCD transplants were transplanted at status 3-4 (61.0%) compared to 58.6% of DBD recipients at status 1-2. DCD recipients were less likely to be hospitalized at transplant (26.7% vs 58.3%, p < 0.001) and to require intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP; 9.6% vs 28.9%, p < 0.001), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO; 0.3% vs 5.9%, p < 0.001) or temporary left ventricular assist device (LVAD; 1.0% vs 2.7%, p < 0.001). DCD recipients were more likely to have acute rejection prior to discharge (23.3% vs 18.4%, p = 0.044) and to be hospitalized for rejection (23.4% vs 11.4%, p = 0.003) at a median follow-up of 15 months; the latter remained significant after propensity matching. On multivariable logistic regression, DCD donation was an independent predictor of acute rejection (odds ratio [OR] 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-2.15, p = 0.048) and hospitalization for rejection (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.06-3.70, p = 0.026). On center-specific subgroup analysis, DCD recipients continued to have higher rates of hospitalization for rejection (23.4% vs 13.8%, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: DCD recipients are more likely to experience acute rejection. Early survival is similar between DCD and DBD recipients, but long-term implications of increased early rejection in DCD recipients require further investigation.

Textbook outcome: A novel metric in heart transplantation outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Assessing heart transplant program quality using short-term survival is insufficient. We define and validate the composite metric textbook outcome and examine its association with overall survival. METHODS: We identified all primary, isolated adult heart transplants in the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Standard Transplant Analysis and Research files from May 1, 2005, to December 31, 2017. Textbook outcome was defined as length of stay 30 days or less; ejection fraction greater than 50% during 1-year follow-up; functional status 80% to 100% at 1 year; freedom from acute rejection, dialysis, and stroke during the index hospitalization; and freedom from graft failure, dialysis, rejection, retransplantation, and mortality during the first year post-transplant. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Factors independently associated with textbook outcome were used to create a predictive nomogram. Conditional survival at 1 year was measured. RESULTS: A total of 24,620 patients were identified with 11,169 (45.4%, 95% confidence interval, 44.7-46.0) experiencing textbook outcome. Patients with textbook outcome were more likely free from preoperative mechanical support (odds ratio, 3.504, 95% confidence interval, 2.766 to 4.439, P < .001), free from preoperative dialysis (odds ratio, 2.295, 95% confidence interval, 1.868-2.819, P < .001), to be not hospitalized (odds ratio, 1.264, 95% confidence interval, 1.183-1.349, P < .001), to be nondiabetic (odds ratio, 1.187, 95% confidence interval, 1.113-1.266, P < .001), and to be nonsmokers (odds ratio, 1.160, 95% confidence interval,1.097-1.228, P < .001). Patients with textbook outcome have improved long-term survival relative to patients without textbook outcome who survive at least 1 year (hazard ratio for death, 0.547, 95% confidence interval, 0.504-0.593, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Textbook outcome is an alternative means of examining heart transplant outcomes and is associated with long-term survival. The use of textbook outcome as an adjunctive metric provides a holistic view of patient and center outcomes.

Does Failure to Rescue Drive Race/Ethnicity-based Disparities in Survival After Heart Transplantation?

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess whether race/ethnicity is an independent predictor of failure to rescue (FTR) after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Outcomes following OHT vary by patient level factors; for example, non-White patients have worse outcomes than White patients after OHT. Failure to rescue is an important factor associated with cardiac surgery outcomes, but its relationship to demographic factors is unknown. METHODS: Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we included all adult patients who underwent primary isolated OHT between 1/1/2006 snd 6/30/2021. FTR was defined as the inability to prevent mortality after at least one of the UNOS-designated postoperative complications. Donor, recipient, and transplant characteristics, including complications and FTR, were compared across race/ethnicity. Logistic regression models were created to identify factors associated with complications and FTR. Kaplan Meier and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the association between race/ethnicity and posttransplant survival. RESULTS: There were 33,244 adult, isolated heart transplant recipients included: the distribution of race/ethnicity was 66% (n=21,937) White, 21.2% (7,062) Black, 8.3% (2,768) Hispanic, and 3.3% (1,096) Asian. The frequency of complications and FTR differed significantly by race/ethnicity. After adjustment, Hispanic recipients were more likely to experience FTR than White recipients (OR 1.327, 95% CI[1.075-1.639], P =0.02). Black recipients had lower 5-year survival compared with other races/ethnicities (HR 1.276, 95% CI[1.207-1.348], P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In the US, Black recipients have an increased risk of mortality after OHT compared with White recipients, without associated differences in FTR. In contrast, Hispanic recipients have an increased likelihood of FTR, but no significant mortality difference compared with White recipients. These findings highlight the need for tailored approaches to addressing race/ethnicity-based health inequities in the practice of heart transplantation.

Impact of donor-recipient age-difference in adolescent heart transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between donor age and adolescent heart transplant outcomes remains incompletely understood. We aimed to explore the effect of donor-recipient age difference on survival after adolescent heart transplantation. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify 2,855 adolescents aged 10-17 years undergoing isolated primary heart transplantation from 1/1/2000 to 12/31/2022. The primary outcome was 10-year post-transplant survival. Multivariable Cox regression identified predictors of mortality after adjusting for donor and recipient characteristics. A restricted cubic spline assessed the non-linear association between donor-recipient age-difference and the adjusted relative mortality hazard. RESULTS: The median donor-recipient age-difference was +3 (range -13 to +47) years, and 17.7% (n = 504) of recipients had an age- difference > 10 years. Recipients with an age-difference > 10 years had a less favorable pre-transplant profile, including a higher incidence of priority status 1A (81.6%, n = 411 vs. 73.6%, n = 1730; p = .01). The 10-year survival rate was 54.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 48.8- 60.4) among recipients with a donor-recipient age-difference > 10 years and 66.9% (95% CI: 64.4-69.4) among those with an age-difference ≤10 years. An age-difference > 10 years was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 1.43, 95% CI: 1.18-1.72, p < .001). Spline analysis demonstrated that the adjusted mortality hazard increased with increasingly positive donor-recipient age-difference and became significantly higher at an age-difference of 11 years. CONCLUSION: A donor-recipient age-difference > 11 years is independently associated with higher long-term mortality after adolescent heart transplantation. This finding may help inform acceptable donor selection practice for adolescent heart transplant candidates.

Repeat pediatric heart transplantation: A united network for organ sharing database analysis.

BACKGROUND: A history of congenital heart disease and previous transplantation are each independently associated with worse survival following pediatric heart transplantation. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of children undergoing repeat heart transplantation in the United States based on the underlying diagnosis. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify 8111 patients aged <18 years undergoing isolated heart transplantation from 2000 to 2021, including 435 (5.4%) repeat transplants. Restricted cubic spline analysis assessed the non-linear relationship between inter-transplant interval and the primary outcome of all-cause mortality or re-transplantation. Multivariable Cox regression assessed the impact of re-transplantation on the primary outcome. Median follow-up was 5.0 (interquartile range 1.9-9.9) years. RESULTS: Repeat transplant patients were older (median age 12 vs. 4 years; p < .001), and less likely to be in UNOS status 1A (66.0%, n = 287 vs. 81.0% n = 6217; p < .001) than primary transplant patients. Freedom from the primary outcome was 51.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 45.5-57.2) among repeat transplants and 70.5% (95% CI 69.2-71.8) among primary transplants at 10 years (p < .001). Among repeat transplant patients, the relative hazard of the primary outcome became non-significant when the inter-transplant interval >3.6 years. Congenital heart disease was an independent predictor of mortality among primary (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-1.9) but not repeat transplant (HR 1.1, 95% CI .8-1.6) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcomes remain poor for patients undergoing repeat heart transplantation, particularly those with an inter-transplant interval <3.6 years. Underlying diagnosis does not impact outcomes after repeat transplantation, after accounting for other risk factors.

Preemptive antiviral therapy in lung transplantation from hepatitis C donors results in a rapid and sustained virologic response.

Objective: The study objective was to assess the safety and efficacy of a preemptive direct-acting antiviral therapy in lung transplants from hepatitis C virus donors to uninfected recipients. Methods: This study is a prospective, open-label, nonrandomized, pilot trial. Recipients of hepatitis C virus nucleic acid test positive donor lungs underwent preemptive direct-acting antiviral therapy with glecaprevir 300 mg/pibrentasvir 120 mg for 8 weeks from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. Recipients of nucleic acid test positive lungs were compared with recipients of lungs from nucleic acid test negative donors. Primary end points were Kaplan-Meier survival and sustained virologic response. Secondary outcomes included primary graft dysfunction, rejection, and infection. Results: Fifty-nine lung transplantations were included: 16 nucleic acid test positive and 43 nucleic acid test negative. Twelve nucleic acid test positive recipients (75%) developed hepatitis C virus viremia. Median time to clearance was 7 days. All nucleic acid test positive patients had undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA by week 3, and all alive patients (n = 15) remained negative during follow-up with 100% sustained virologic response at 12 months. One nucleic acid test positive patient died of primary graft dysfunction and multiorgan failure. Three of 43 nucleic acid test negative patients (7%) had hepatitis C virus antibody positive donors. None of them developed hepatitis C virus viremia. One-year survival was 94% for nucleic acid test positive recipients and 91% for nucleic acid test negative recipients. There was no difference in primary graft dysfunction, rejection, or infection. One-year survival for nucleic acid test positive recipients was similar to a historical cohort of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (89%). Conclusions: Recipients of hepatitis C virus nucleic acid test positive lungs have similar survival as recipients of nucleic acid test negative lungs. Preemptive direct-acting antiviral therapy results in rapid viral clearance and sustained virologic response at 12 months. Preemptive direct-acting antiviral may partially prevent hepatitis C virus transmission.

Race-Based Differences in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Process Metrics and Mortality From 2015 Through 2021: An Analysis of 178 062 Patients From the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease Registry.

BACKGROUND: Systems of care have been developed across the United States to standardize care processes and improve outcomes in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The effect of contemporary STEMI systems of care on racial and ethnic disparities in achievement of time-to-treatment goals and mortality in STEMI is uncertain. METHODS: We analyzed 178 062 patients with STEMI (52 293 women and 125 769 men) enrolled in the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease registry between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2021. Patients were stratified into and outcomes compared among 3 racial and ethnic groups: non-Hispanic White, Hispanic White, and Black. The primary outcomes were the proportions of patients achieving the following STEMI process metrics: prehospital ECG obtained by emergency medical services; hospital arrival to ECG obtained within 10 minutes for patients not transported by emergency medical services; arrival-to-percutaneous coronary intervention time within 90 minutes; and first medical contact-to-device time within 90 minutes. A secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Analyses were performed separately in women and men, and all outcomes were adjusted for age, comorbidities, acuity of presentation, insurance status, and socioeconomic status measured by social vulnerability index based on patients' county of residence. RESULTS: Compared with non-Hispanic White patients with STEMI, Hispanic White patients and Black patients had lower odds of receiving a prehospital ECG and achieving targets for door-to-ECG, door-to-device, and first medical contact-to-device times. These racial disparities in treatment goals were observed in both women and men, and persisted in most cases after multivariable adjustment. Compared with non-Hispanic White women, Hispanic White women had higher adjusted in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.12-1.72]), whereas Black women did not (odds ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.74-1.03]). Compared with non-Hispanic White men, adjusted in-hospital mortality was similar in Hispanic White men (odds ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.82-1.18]) and Black men (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.85-1.09]). CONCLUSIONS: Race- or ethnicity-based disparities persist in STEMI process metrics in both women and men, and mortality differences are observed in Hispanic White compared with non-Hispanic White women. Further research is essential to evolve systems of care to mitigate racial differences in STEMI outcomes.

The effect of warm ischemia and donor ejection fraction on 30-day mortality after donation after circulatory death heart transplantation: A national database analysis.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) donor hearts recovered using the direct procurement and perfusion method experience variable durations of warm ischemia at the time of procurement (WIP). We used the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database to assess the effect of WIP on 30-day mortality after DCD heart transplantation. The analysis evaluated outcomes in 237 recipients of DCD heart transplantation, demonstrating an optimal WIP cut point of <36 minutes. Multivariable logistic regression modeling identified donor left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <60% as an independent predictor of 30-day mortality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting 30-day mortality based on WIP ≥36 minutes and donor LVEF <60% was 0.90. Based on these findings, we do not recommend proceeding with DCD heart transplantation for patients with WIP ≥36 minutes, particularly in donors with LVEF <60%.

Is Transplantation With Coronavirus Disease 2019-Positive Donor Lungs Safe? A US Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused debilitating lung failure in many patients. Practitioners have understandably been hesitant to use lungs from donors with COVID-19 for transplantation. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics and short-term outcomes of lung transplantation from donors with recent positive COVID-19 testing results. METHODS: Lung transplantations performed between January 2020 and June 2022 were queried from the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Pediatric, multiorgan, and repeat lung transplantations were excluded. Propensity scoring matched recipients of lungs from donors with recent positive COVID-19 testing results to recipients of lungs from donors with negative COVID-19 testing results, and comparisons of 30-day mortality, 3-month mortality, and perioperative outcomes were performed. RESULTS: A total of 5270 patients underwent lung transplantation during the study dates, including 51 patients who received lungs from donors with recent positive COVID-19 testing results. Forty-five recipients of lungs from donors with recent positive COVID-19 testing results were matched with 135 recipients of lungs from donors with negative COVID-19 testing results. After matching, there was no difference in 30-day (log-rank P = .42) and 3-month (log-rank P = .42) mortality. The incidence of other perioperative complications was similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The 30-day and 3-month survival outcomes were similar between recipients of lungs from donors with recent positive COVID-19 testing results and recipients of lungs from donors with negative COVID-19 testing results. This finding suggests that highly selected COVID-19-positive donors without evidence of active infection may be safely considered for lung transplantation. Further studies should explore long-term outcomes to provide reassurance about the safety of this practice.

Donation after circulatory death heart procurement strategy impacts utilization and outcomes of concurrently procured abdominal organs.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of donation after circulatory death (DCD) heart procurement techniques on the utilization and outcomes of concurrently procured DCD livers and kidneys remains unclear. METHODS: Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we identified 246 DCD donors whose heart was procured using direct procurement and ex-situ machine perfusion and 128 DCD donors whose heart was procured using in-situ thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (12/2019-03/2022). We evaluated the transplantation rate of concurrently procured DCD livers and kidneys (defined as the number of organs transplanted/total number of organs available for procurement) and their post-transplant outcomes. RESULTS: The transplantation rate of concurrently procured DCD livers was higher with in-situ perfusion compared to direct procurement (67.1% vs 56.5%, p = 0.045). After excluding pediatric, multiorgan, and repeat transplant recipients, there was no difference in 6-month liver graft failure rate (direct procurement 0.9% vs in-situ perfusion 0%, p > 0.99). Recipients of kidneys procured with in-situ perfusion had less delayed graft function (11.3% vs 41.5%, p < 0.0001) shorter length of stay, and lower serum creatinine at discharge (both p < 0.05). Six-month recipient survival in the direct procurement and in-situ perfusion group were similar after DCD liver and kidney transplantation (p = 0.24 and 0.79 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to direct procurement, DCD heart procurement with in-situ thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion was associated with increased utilization of DCD livers and a lower incidence of delayed graft function in concurrently procured DCD kidneys. Broader implementation of DCD heart transplantation must maximize the transplant potential of concurrently procured abdominal organs and ensure their successful outcomes.