Inferior Outcomes on the Waiting List in Low-Volume Pediatric Heart Transplant Centers.

Low case volume has been associated with poor outcomes in a wide spectrum of procedures. Our objective was to study the association of low case volume and worse outcomes in pediatric heart transplant centers, taking the novel approach of including waitlist outcomes in the analysis. We studied a cohort of 6482 candidates listed in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network for pediatric heart transplantation between 2002 and 2014; 4665 (72%) of the candidates underwent transplantation. Candidates were divided into groups according to the average annual transplantation volume of the listing center during the study period: more than 10, six to 10, three to five, or fewer than three transplantations. We used multivariate Cox regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for waitlist and posttransplantation mortality. Of the 6482 candidates, 24% were listed in low-volume centers (fewer than three annual transplantations). Of these listed candidates in low-volume centers, only 36% received a transplant versus 89% in high-volume centers (more than 10 annual transplantations) (p < 0.001). Listing at a low-volume center was the most significant risk factor for waitlist death (hazard ratio [HR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5-5.7 in multivariate Cox regression and HR 5.6, CI 4.4-7.3 in multivariate competing risk regression) and was significant for posttransplantation death (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.0-1.6 in multivariate Cox regression). During the study period, one-fourth of pediatric transplant candidates were listed in low-volume transplant centers. These children had a limited transplantation rate and a much greater risk of dying while on the waitlist.

Rana A ，Fraser CD ，Scully BB ，Heinle JS ，McKenzie ED ，Dreyer WJ ，Kueht M ，Liu H ，Brewer ED ，Rosengart TK ，O'Mahony CA ，Goss JA ... -  《-》

Poor outcomes for children on the wait list at low-volume kidney transplant centers in the United States.

Rana A ，Brewer ED ，Scully BB ，Kueht ML ，Goss M ，Halazun KJ ，Liu H ，Galvan NT ，Cotton RT ，O'Mahony CA ... -  《-》

Waiting list outcomes in pediatric lung transplantation: Poor results for children listed in adult transplant programs.

Low case volume has been associated with lower survival after pediatric lung transplantation. Our aim was to analyze waitlist outcomes among pediatric lung transplant centers in the USA. We studied a cohort of 1,139 pediatric candidates listed in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network for lung transplantation between 2002 and 2014. Of these candidates, 720 (63.2%) received a transplant. Candidates were divided into groups according to the clinical activity of the center of listing: high-volume pediatric (≥4 transplants per year); low-volume pediatric (<4 transplants per year); and adult (transplant volume predominantly in adults). We used multivariate Cox regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for waitlist mortality. We also determined the transplant rate-or likelihood of transplant after listing-over the study period. Fifty-eight percent of the children and adolescents were listed in adult centers where the resultant transplant rate was low-only 42% received a transplant compared with 93% in pediatric programs. Listing in an adult program was also the most significant risk factor for death on the waiting list (hazard ratio 15.6, 95% confidence interval 5.8 to 42.1). Most children (58%) are listed for lung transplantation in adult centers and have a reduced rate of transplantation and a greater chance of waitlist mortality.

Scully BB ，Goss M ，Liu H ，Keuht ML ，Adachi I ，McKenzie ED ，Fraser CD ，Melicoff E ，Mallory GB ，Heinle JS ，Rana A ... -  《-》

Functional status at listing predicts waitlist and posttransplant mortality in pediatric liver transplant candidates.

Functional impairment is associated with mortality in adult liver transplant candidates. This has not been studied in pediatric liver transplant candidates. United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research files were used to investigate functional status, waitlist mortality, and posttransplant outcomes in children younger than 18 years who were waitlisted in 2006-2016 for primary liver transplant. Functional status was categorized, by using the Lansky Play-Performance Scale (LPPS), as normal/good (80-100), moderately impaired (50-70), or severely impaired (10-40) by center assessment. Among 3250 children not listed as Status 1A, 62% had an LPPS score of 80-100, 25% had a score of 50-70, and 13% had a score of 10-40 at listing. Children with an LPPS score of 10-40 at listing were more likely to die while on the waitlist (standardized hazard ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.09-3.13, P = .02) in analyses adjusting for being on a ventilator, breathing support, or dialysis and other illness severity measures. For the 2565 children transplanted, an LPPS score of 10-40 at listing drastically increased mortality risk by 1 year posttransplant (hazard ratio 5.77, 95% confidence interval 3.05-10.91, P < .0005). LPPS scores of 10-40 and 50-70 both increased the risk of graft loss by 1 year. Functional status is an independent predictor of waitlist and posttransplant mortality in pediatric liver transplant candidates. Validated tools for the assessment of functional status in these children would improve our ability to predict mortality risk-and to appropriately prioritize them for transplant.

Perito ER ，Bucuvalas J ，Lai JC 《-》

Pediatric Liver Transplant Center Volume and the Likelihood of Transplantation.

Low case volume has been associated with poorer surgical outcomes in a multitude of surgical procedures. We studied the association among low case volume, outcomes, and the likelihood of pediatric liver transplantation. We studied a cohort of 6628 candidates listed in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network for primary pediatric liver transplantation between 2002 and 2012; 4532 of the candidates went on to transplantation. Candidates were divided into groups according to the average volume of yearly transplants performed in the listing center over 10 years: >15, 10 to 15, 5 to 9, and <5. We used univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses with bootstrapping on transplant recipient data and identified independent recipient and donor risk factors for wait-list and posttransplant mortality. 38.5% of the candidates were listed in low-volume centers, those in which <5 transplants were performed annually. These candidates had severely reduced likelihood of transplantation with only 41% receiving a transplant. For the remaining candidates, listed at higher volume centers, the transplant rate was 85% (P < .001). Being listed at a low-volume center was a significant risk factor in multivariate Cox regression analysis for both wait-list mortality (hazard ratio, 3.27; confidence interval, 2.53-4.23) and posttransplant mortality (hazard ratio, 2.21; confidence interval, 1.43-3.40). 38.5% of pediatric transplant candidates are listed in low-volume transplant centers and have lower likelihood of transplantation and poorer outcomes. If further studies substantiated these findings, we would advocate consolidating pediatric liver transplantation in higher volume centers.

Rana A ，Pallister Z ，Halazun K ，Cotton R ，Guiteau J ，Nalty CC ，O'Mahony CA ，Goss JA ... -  《-》