Pancreas Allograft Importation Should Be Fostered by Any Transplant Center Challenged by Excessively Long Waitlist Times
Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: D279
Keywords: Allocation, Waiting lists
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session D: Pancreas and Islet: All Topics
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Hall C & D
*Purpose: Pancreas transplantation is a durable option for patients with insulin dependent diabetes. However, geographic inequity has created a supply side problem for our region. As such, our center implemented a pancreas graft importation policy to increase donor availability and shorten waitlist times for our patients.
*Methods: The study comprised of a single center retrospective cohort of 47 patients who received simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) or pancreas after kidney (PAK) over five years. Donor service area and regional waitlist times were assessed, and outcomes metrics were detailed.
*Results: Aggressive importation increased the amount of imported pancreata from 43 percent in 2014 to 86 percent in 2018 (Figure 1. Panel A). Waitlist times decreased drastically from a median of 1470 days (range: 345 – 2425) in 2014 to 514 days (range: 18 – 2318) in 2018 (Figure 1); p=0.11. Mean follow up time was 780 days. There was one graft loss and one patient death. Waitlist times (days) at MMC (total = 526, SPK = 518, PAK = 546) approached the national median (total = 511, SPK = 572, PAK = 225; p=NS) and were well below Region 9 (total = 915, SPK = 980, PAK = 528; p=0.12, p=0.01, p=0.92), (Figure 1. Panel B).
*Conclusions: Centers disadvantaged by donor service area and regional allocation must implement pancreata importation to address long waitlist times.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Torabi J, Rocca JP, Lirano L, Azzizi Y, Ajaimy M, Pynadath C, Akalin E, Kinkhabwala M, Graham JA. Pancreas Allograft Importation Should Be Fostered by Any Transplant Center Challenged by Excessively Long Waitlist Times [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/pancreas-allograft-importation-should-be-fostered-by-any-transplant-center-challenged-by-excessively-long-waitlist-times/. Accessed November 22, 2024.« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress