Liver transplant center variability in accepting organ offers and its impact on patient survival.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Despite an allocation system designed to give deceased-donor livers to the sickest patients, many transplantable livers are declined by U.S. transplant centers. It is unknown whether centers vary in their propensities to decline organs for the highest priority patients, and how these decisions directly impact patient outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) data from 5/1/07-6/17/13, and included all adult liver-alone waitlist candidates offered an organ that was ultimately transplanted. We evaluated acceptance rates of liver offers for the highest ranked patients and their subsequent waitlist mortality.

Results

Of the 23,740 unique organ offers, 8882 (37.4%) were accepted for the first-ranked patient. Despite

SUBMITTER: Goldberg DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4799773 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature