Mettu S Reddy1, Abdul R Hakeem1, Tarunjeet Klair2, Francesca Marcon3, Abhishek Mathur4, Benjamin Samstein5, Ravi Mohanka6,7, Surendra K Mathur7, Andreas Prachalias8, Krishna V Menon8, Paolo Muiesan3, Mohamed Rela1, Jean C Emond4. 1. Liver Transplant Unit, Dr Rela Institute & Medical Center, Chennai, India. 2. Liver Transplant Unit, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. 3. Liver Transplant Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom. 4. Liver Transplant Unit, New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. 5. Liver Transplant Unit, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. 6. Liver Transplant Unit, Global Hospitals, Mumbai, India. 7. Zonal Transplant Coordination Center, Mumbai, India. 8. Liver Transplant Unit, Kings College & Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is stressing healthcare services to an unprecedented extent. There is anecdotal evidence of reduction in organ donation and transplantation activity across the world. METHODS: The weekly organ donation and liver transplant numbers over a 3-month period (Feb 17, 2020, till May 17, 2020) for the United States, United Kingdom, and India were compared with their previous year's activity. Liver transplant activity in 6 centers from these countries with varying local COVID-19 caseload was also compared. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant contraction in organ donation and liver transplantation in all 3 countries. Peak reduction ranged from 25% in the United States to over 80% in the United Kingdom and India. The reduction was different for deceased donor and living donor liver transplantation and varied between centers within a country. There was early evidence of recovery of deceased donation in the United States and United Kingdom and resumption of living donor liver transplantation activity in India toward the end of the study period. A number of policy changes were undertaken at national and transplant center levels to ensure safe transplantation despite significant redirection of resources to combat the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: There was a substantial reduction in organ donation and liver transplantation activity across the 3 countries with signs of recovery toward the end of the study period. Multiple factors including COVID-19 severity, stress on resources and influence of regulatory agencies and local factors are responsible for the reduction and recovery.
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is stressing healthcare services to an unprecedented extent. There is anecdotal evidence of reduction in organ donation and transplantation activity across the world. METHODS: The weekly organ donation and liver transplant numbers over a 3-month period (Feb 17, 2020, till May 17, 2020) for the United States, United Kingdom, and India were compared with their previous year's activity. Liver transplant activity in 6 centers from these countries with varying local COVID-19 caseload was also compared. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant contraction in organ donation and liver transplantation in all 3 countries. Peak reduction ranged from 25% in the United States to over 80% in the United Kingdom and India. The reduction was different for deceased donor and living donor liver transplantation and varied between centers within a country. There was early evidence of recovery of deceased donation in the United States and United Kingdom and resumption of living donor liver transplantation activity in India toward the end of the study period. A number of policy changes were undertaken at national and transplant center levels to ensure safe transplantation despite significant redirection of resources to combat the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: There was a substantial reduction in organ donation and liver transplantation activity across the 3 countries with signs of recovery toward the end of the study period. Multiple factors including COVID-19 severity, stress on resources and influence of regulatory agencies and local factors are responsible for the reduction and recovery.
Authors: Gabriel Putzer; Lukas Gasteiger; Simon Mathis; Arjan van Enckevort; Tobias Hell; Thomas Resch; Stefan Schneeberger; Judith Martini Journal: Transplantation Date: 2022-04-11 Impact factor: 5.385
Authors: Michelle C Nguyen; Eliza J Lee; Robin K Avery; M Veronica Dioverti-Prono; Shmuel Shoham; Aaron A R Tobian; Evan M Bloch; Ahmet Gurakar; Nicole A Rizkalla; Andrew M Cameron; Elizabeth A King; Shane Ottmann; Jacqueline M Garonzik-Wang; Russel N Wesson; Benjamin Philosophe Journal: Transplant Direct Date: 2021-07-08