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Heart transplantation in the UK during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Lookup NU author(s): Gillian Hardman, Professor Andrew FisherORCiD, Professor John Dark

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Abstract

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons LtdBackground: We aim to evaluate practice and understand the impact of the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on heart transplantation in the UK. Methods: A retrospective review of the UK Transplant Registry (UKTR) and a national survey of UK heart transplant centers have been performed. The early pandemic period is defined here as 1 March to 31 May 2020. Results: There was geographic variation in the prevalence of COVID-19 across the UK. All centers reported adaptations to maintain the safety of their staff, candidate, and recipient populations. The number of donors fell by 31% during the early pandemic period. Heart utilization increased to 35%, compared to 26% during the same period of 2019. The number of heart transplants was well maintained, across all centers, with 38 performed, compared to 41 during the same period of 2019, with no change in 30-day survival. Twenty-seven heart transplant recipients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were reported during the study period. Conclusion: All UK heart transplant centers have successfully adapted their programs to overcome the challenges of staff redeployment and ICU and hospital resource limitation, associated with the pandemic, whilst continuing heart transplant activity. On-going evaluation of practice changes, with sharing of lessons learned, is required as the pandemic continues.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Hardman G, Sutcliffe R, Hogg R, Mumford L, Grocott L, Jerrett L, Mead-Regan S-J, Nuttall J, Dunn S, Seeley P, Quigley R, Dalzell JR, Al-Attar N, Parameshwar J, Fisher AJ, Booth K, Dark JH

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Clinical Transplantation

Year: 2021

Volume: 35

Issue: 5

Online publication date: 20/02/2021

Acceptance date: 15/02/2021

ISSN (print): 0902-0063

ISSN (electronic): 1399-0012

Publisher: Wiley

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/ctr.14261

DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14261

PubMed id: 33608916

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