title: Use of model for end-stage liver disease exceptions for donation after cardiac death graft recipients relisted for liver transplantation.
abstract: Donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver transplantation is associated with increased biliary complications and graft failure. Yet for unclear reasons, DCD recipients relisted for transplantation have lower wait-list mortality than other retransplant candidates. We used Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and United Network for Organ Sharing data from 2002 to 2011 to evaluate all DCD recipients relisted for transplantation to evaluate the impact of the utilization of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exception points on wait-list outcomes. Of 262 DCD recipients relisted for liver transplantation >2 weeks after initial transplantation, 82 (31.3%) applied for a nonstandardized MELD exception, and 68 (82.9%) had ≥1 exception approved. Of the relisted DCD recipients, 187 (71.4%) underwent retransplantation; among those with an approved MELD exception, 85.2% underwent retransplantation versus 57.1% of those with an exception denied and 69.4% of those not applying for an exception (P=0.02). In contrast, those receiving MELD exception points were significantly less likely to be removed from the wait list for death or clinical deterioration in comparison with those not applying for an exception (7.1% versus 19.4%, P=0.02). In multivariate models, patients with an approved exception were 3.3 times more likely to undergo retransplantation than those not applying for an exception. Standardized criteria for exception points among DCD recipients should be established to ensure uniform access to retransplantation.
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Maduka
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists