Geographic Discard Disparities of Liver Allografts
1Medical Student, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Meeting: 2020 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: B-117
Keywords: Allocation, Donation, Graft acceptance, Liver
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session B: Liver: MELD, Allocation and Donor Issues (DCD/ECD)
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2020
Session Time: 3:15pm-4:00pm
Presentation Time: 3:30pm-4:00pm
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the significant geographic disparity in liver allograft discard.
*Methods: Using the OPTN Diseased Donor Network database, we analyzed the liver organ supply, allograft marginality, and discard rates for DBD and DCD organs harvested between January 1, 2002, and September 30, 2016. Livers that were harvested but not transplanted were considered discarded. Geographic Information System software was used alongside county-level data from the 2010 US Census to calculate per capita data and map it to each DSA.
*Results: We identified notable variability in each of the metrics used to measure liver allograft supply, marginality, and discard; the most significant were eligible donors per million (2.72-fold difference, 13.1-35.7), DBD discard rate (2.40-fold difference, 11.2-26.9%), and DCD discard rate (0-100%).
*Conclusions: Discard rates of liver allografts varied significantly among DSAs. Improving low performing OPOs to benchmark levels may represent a significant source of donor livers.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Jr PIKenny, Rana A, Vierling J. Geographic Discard Disparities of Liver Allografts [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2020; 20 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/geographic-discard-disparities-of-liver-allografts/. Accessed July 18, 2025.« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress