Abstract 13333: Review of Simultaneous Kidney and Heart Transplant After 2018: UNOS Data

Abstract

Introduction: In October 2018, the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) adopted a 6-tier system for organ allocation where priority was given to critically ill patients, especially those on Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support. The guideline lacks information about multiorgan transplant due to weak evidence on Simultaneous Kidney and Heart transplant (SKHT) data. Hence with this study, we aim to review outcomes of patients on ECMO at the time of SKHT. Method: This was a retrospective study of adult SKHT recipients between 2018-2022 from the OPTN database. The study excluded individuals who underwent simultaneous multiple organ transplants, isolated heart transplants, as well as those with incomplete outcome information. The cohort was stratified by ECMO need at the time of transplant. Univariate cox regression analysis was performed for predictors of worse outcomes. Patient survival was compared using Kaplan Meier (KM) curve and log rank test. Results: A total of 1383 patients were included in this study, of which 72 (5.2%) were on ECMO bridge. On review of baseline characteristics, patients on ECMO had mean wait time of 65 (± 190) days with higher mortality rate post-transplant and a lower mean survival time as compared to the non-ECMO counterparts (398 (± 404) vs 545 (± 462) days, p= 0.008). On analysis of KM curve, SKHT recipients on ECMO bridge had higher mortality within the first 10 months of transplant and plateaued after that. The only predictors associated with worst outcomes among ECMO recipients were dialysis requirement and development of stroke post-transplant. On the contrary, Left Ventricular assisted device (LVAD) use prior to transplant was associated with 70% reduction in mortality in non-ECMO group (HR: 0.30 (95% CI: 0.11 - 0.83, p=0.02)) in this cohort. Conclusion: Following the change in guidelines, around 5.2% of the total SKHT recipients were on the ECMO bridge. Dialysis requirement and development of stroke post-transplant was independently associated with higher mortality compared to non ECMO group. On the contrary, patients on LVAD support at the time of transplant have had better outcomes.Figure 1: