Geospatial Insights into Access to Kidney Transplantation in Underserved Hispanic Communities.

Introduction: The rising Hispanic population in the U.S. is at significant end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) risk.

The impact of neurologic exam on acceptance of donation after circulatory death liver allografts.

While donation after circulatory death (DCD) has contributed significantly to growth in liver transplantation volume, 70%-80% of DCD liver allografts remain nonutilized. We suspected that neurologic exam documentation fuels concerns that potential donors would not expire within an acceptable time frame, thus discouraging the pursuit of organs. We hypothesized that the neurologic exam is an unreliable predictor of donor warm ischemia time (DWIT), but nevertheless influences clinicians' behavior with respect to organ acceptance.

Histopathologic outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90 resin microspheres.

Purpose: To evaluate the pathologic outcomes of 90Y-TARE of HCC with resin microspheres prescribed using the single-compartment model and to correlate posttreatment dose with outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective single-center study included adult patients with HCC who underwent 90Y-TARE with resin microspheres before liver transplantation or surgery. Histopathologic evaluation of liver tissue was performed.

Engaging Patients in Organ Transplant Listing Meetings: A Survey Study.

Organ transplant listing decisions are made by multidisciplinary selection committees using structured, deliberative processes to evaluate candidate eligibility. Engaging patients in these meetings has been proposed as a strategy to enhance transparency, trust, and patient-centered care. This study assessed patient and professional perspectives via an online survey of 1,349 American Society of Transplantation (AST) and National Kidney Foundation (NKF) members (907 patients, caregivers, family; 442 transplant team members).

Safety and Efficacy of Primary Stent Placement for Hepatic Artery Kinks in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of primary stent placement for hepatic artery kinks in liver transplant recipients.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, all patients undergoing liver transplantation between February 2001 and February 2024 at a single institution who underwent primary stent placement were reviewed. Patients who had hepatic artery thrombosis or underwent balloon angioplasty alone were excluded.

Bridging the Gap: The State of Global Transplant Research Collaboration.

Background: The field of transplant research has long been recognized for its innovative approaches and international collaborations. This study aims to dissect the landscape of global collaborations within transplant research during a past decade.

Methods: Through a comprehensive bibliometric and network analysis of 5 high-impact factor transplantation journals from 2012 to 2021, we evaluated scientific production and collaboration patterns in 9 250 articles.

Normothermic Machine Perfusion and Liver Transplant Waitlist Times: A Single-Center Matched Cohort Study.

Introduction: Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is a promising technology for expanding the donor liver pool. This study aims to evaluate the association between the implementation of NMP on liver transplant waitlist times at a single center.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent liver transplant at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 2014 to 2024.

Accuracy of cross-sectional imaging in predicting tumor viability using the LI-RADS treatment response algorithm after image-guided percutaneous ablation with radiologic-pathologic explant correlation.

Background: Accurate assessment of viable HCC on pre-transplant cross sectional imaging is important for correct organ allocation and overall patient outcome following liver transplantation.

Purpose: Determine accuracy of LI-RADS TRA compared to explant pathology in patients treated with thermal ablation, using contrast enhanced multiphase CT and MRI.

Materials And Methods: Imaging studies for 119 consecutive adult HCC patients treated with thermal ablation and liver transplantation from March 2001 to September 2019 at a single tertiary care hospital were retrospectively studied by three Board-certified radiologists.

Long Term Outcomes of Transplant Recipients Comparing Belatacept vs. Tacrolimus: A UNOS Database Analysis.

Calcineurin inhibitors have been the choice for maintenance immunosuppression (IS) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), but they are associated with nephrotoxicity and metabolic side effects. We aim to compare the long-term outcomes of KTR on belatacept (bela) versus tacrolimus (tac) IS, in all KTRs and various subgroups. Using the UNOS-STAR files, we identified adult first-KTR from 2010 to 2022.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Vascular Invasion Treated with Resin Yttrium-90 Transarterial Radioembolization Using Single Compartment Dosimetry.

Purpose: To report outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with lobar and segmental vascular invasion treated with resin Yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization (Y90-TARE) with single-compartment MIRD (Medical Internal Radiation Dose) model.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective IRB approved study of patients with a diagnosis of HCC with vascular invasion undergoing resin Y90-TARE from 2014 to 2022 (n = 61). Patients with Body Surface Area dosimetry (n = 20), main portal vein invasion (n = 6) and patients with an ECOG of > 2 were excluded (n = 1) with a final cohort of 34 patients.

Early Steroid Withdrawal Versus Steroid Maintenance in Adults Older than 65 Receiving Second Kidney Transplants.

Background: The role of steroid maintenance (SM) therapy in older adults with kidney retransplants is uncertain due to the intricate balance between rejection and adverse event risks. We aimed to assess their long-term outcomes, comparing SM versus early steroid withdrawal (ESW).

Methods: Retrospective United Network for Organ Sharing registry cohort study.

Safety and Effectiveness of Early Primary Stent Placement for Hepatic Artery Stenosis in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of early primary stent placement (within 30 days of liver transplantation) for hepatic artery stenosis (HAS).

Materials And Methods: Patients who underwent liver transplantation between February 2001 and February 2024 were evaluated for HAS. Patients who underwent primary stent placement were selected and stratified based on the time from anastomosis to intervention.

Qualitative Exploration of Abdominal Transplant Surgeon Perception of Retirement.

Background: For many surgeons, retirement is an emotionally evocative subject, tied to a sense of loss. With minimal guidelines to facilitate a smooth transition, physicians tend to be inadequately prepared. There are few qualitative studies exploring surgeons' perspectives and none focused on transplant surgeons, a population with arguably unique challenges.

A Single-Center Retrospective Study to Identify Causes of Sex Differences in the Living Kidney Donor Evaluation Process.

Key Points: Female overrepresentation in living kidney donation stems from higher self-referral rates, not differences in approval or follow-through. Male volunteers are not more likely to be declined as donors due to medical contraindications, contrary to common assumptions. Engaging more male volunteers in living donation could expand access to kidney transplantation and reduce waitlist times.

Machine Perfusion Technology Drives a Major Growth Surge in Liver Transplantation.

Introduction: Machine perfusion (MP) opens the possibility to overcome the existing disbalance between supply and demand in liver transplantation. However, it has not been widely adopted across the country. We explored trends of MP adoption in the United States and their effect on center volume (CV).

Impact of Donor Warm Ischemia Time on Graft Survival for Donation After Circulatory Death Kidney Transplantation.

Background: The utilization of kidneys donated after circulatory death (DCD) is an important strategy to address the ongoing shortage of organs suitable for transplantation in the United States. However, the nonuse rate of DCD kidneys remains high compared with kidneys donated after brain death (DBD) because of concerns regarding the injury incurred during donor warm ischemia time (DWIT). Therefore, we investigated the impact of DWIT on the risk of death-censored graft failure after DCD kidney transplantation (KT).

Efficacy and Safety of Radiation Segmentectomy with Y Resin Microspheres for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background Limited data are available on radiation segmentectomy (RS) for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using yttrium 90 (Y) resin microsphere doses determined by using a single-compartment medical internal radiation dosimetry (MIRD) model. Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of RS treatment of HCC with Y resin microspheres using a single-compartment MIRD model and correlate posttreatment dose with outcomes. Materials and Methods This retrospective single-center study included adult patients with HCC who underwent RS with Y resin microspheres between July 2014 and December 2022.

Machine perfusion organ preservation: Highlights from the American Transplant Congress 2023.

The American Transplant Congress (ATC) 2023, held in San Diego, California, emerged as a pivotal platform showcasing the latest advancements in organ machine perfusion, a key area in solid organ and tissue transplantation. This year's congress, attended by over 4500 participants, including leading experts, emphasized innovations in machine perfusion technologies across various organ types, including liver, kidney, heart, and lung. A total of 85 abstracts on organ machine perfusion were identified.

Liver machine perfusion technology: Expanding the donor pool to improve access to liver transplantation.

The imbalance between organ supply and demand continues to limit the broader benefits of organ transplantation. Machine perfusion (MP) may increase the supply of donor livers by expanding the use of extended-criteria donors. Using the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and the Standard Transplant Analysis and Research dataset, we reviewed the effect of MP implementation on the behavior of transplant centers.

Representation of Women Authorship in the Top 5 Transplantation Journals in the United States.

Background: In the United States, only 13% of transplant surgeons are women. We evaluated gender distribution and trends of American authorship over the past 10 y in high-impact solid organ transplantation journals to gain insight into the current status of women authorship in transplantation.

Methods: Original articles from 2012 to 2021 from the 5 highest-impact solid organ transplantation journals were extracted from Scopus.

The power of partnership: Exploring collaboration dynamics in U.S. transplant research.

Introduction: Collaboration is one of the hallmarks of academic research. This study analyzes collaboration patterns in U.S.