Center expansion of liver transplants using donation after circulatory death organs is associated with reduced overall waitlist mortality.

INTRODUCTION

Waitlist outcomes in liver transplantation (LT) for individual recipients are improved by use of allografts procured through donation after circulatory death (DCD). However, the impact of increased DCD acceptance on overall center outcomes is unknown.

METHODS

Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, 88 centers performing an average of ≥10 LTs/year between 1/2004 and 12/2019 were compared by percent DCD use quartile and categorized into four phenotypes according to temporal usage trends. Overall center median Model for End-stage Liver Disease at LT (MMaT), waitlist mortality, and waiting time were evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall DCD rate was 6.1% (N = 4906/80,709), ranging from 0% to 25.5%. Centers in the top DCD use quartile had lower MMaT (24 vs. 26; p < .001) and shorter overall waiting times (median 66 days vs. 90 days; p < .001) compared to bottom quartile centers. MMaT increased less over time at centers with increasing DCD use and was lower than at centers with declining DCD use (27 vs. 32; p = .017). Overall waitlist mortality between 2016 and 2019 was lower at increasing DCD use centers (17.8% vs. 22.5%, p = .034), yet did not affect 1-year mortality (p = .747).

CONCLUSIONS

The improved waitlist outcomes at centers with expanded DCD use extend beyond DCD recipients alone without negative consequences to overall post-LT center metrics.