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Fink MA, Gow PJ, McCaughan GW, Hodgkinson P, Chen J, McCall J, Jaques B, Crawford M, Strasser SI, Hardikar W, Brooke-Smith M, Starkey G, Jeffrey GP, Gane E, Stormon M, Evans H, Tallis C, Byrne AJ, Jones RM. Impact of Share 35 liver transplantation allocation in Australia and New Zealand. Clin Transplant 2024; 38:e15203. [PMID: 38088459 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.15203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Patients with high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores waiting for liver transplantation in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) have had limited access to deceased donor livers and therefore binational sharing of livers, for patients with a MELD score ≥35 was introduced in February 2016. Waiting list mortality, post-transplant outcomes and intention-to-treat survival were compared between patients whose MELD score reached 35 on the waiting list between October 2013 and April 2015 (Pre-Share 35 group, n = 23) and patients who were Share 35 listed between February 2016 and May 2022 (Share 35 group, n = 112). There was significantly reduced waiting list mortality in share 35 listed patients in comparison to the pre-Share 35 group (11.7% vs. 52.2%, OR .120 95% CI .044-.328, P < .001). Post-transplant patient and graft survival were not significantly different between the groups (5-year patient survival 82% vs. 84%, P = .991, 5-year graft survival 82% vs. 76%, P = .543). Intention-to-treat survival was superior in the Share 35 group (HR .302, 95% CI .149-.614, P < .001). Introduction of Share 35 in ANZ resulted in a 78% risk reduction in waiting list mortality, equivalent post-transplant survival and an improvement in intention-to-treat survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Fink
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Australia and New Zealand Liver and Intestinal Transplant Registry, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul J Gow
- Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Geoffrey W McCaughan
- University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Liver Injury and Cancer, Centenary Institute, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian National Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Hodgkinson
- Queensland Liver Transplant Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - John Chen
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - John McCall
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- New Zealand Liver Transplant Service, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bryon Jaques
- Western Australian Liver Transplant Unit, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael Crawford
- University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian National Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Simone I Strasser
- University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian National Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Winita Hardikar
- Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition Department Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Graham Starkey
- Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gary P Jeffrey
- Western Australian Liver Transplant Unit, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ed Gane
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- New Zealand Liver Transplant Service, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Michael Stormon
- University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian National Liver Transplantation Service, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Helen Evans
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Starship Child Health, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Caroline Tallis
- Queensland Liver Transplant Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Amanda J Byrne
- Australia and New Zealand Liver and Intestinal Transplant Registry, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Robert M Jones
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Ferri F, Milana M, Abbatecola A, Pintore A, Lenci I, Parisse S, Vitale A, Di Croce G, Mennini G, Lai Q, Rossi M, Angelico R, Tisone G, Anselmo A, Angelico M, Corradini SG. Electronic Outpatient Referral System for Liver Transplant Improves Appropriateness and Allows First Visit Triage. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:e1388-e1415. [PMID: 34648952 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Missed or inappropriate referrals of potential candidates for liver transplantation (LT) are common and traditional referral methods (tRs) do not allow for efficient triage. We investigated the effects of a website developed for electronic outpatient referral to LT (eRW-LT) on these issues. METHODS We prospectively collected data on all consecutive outpatient referrals to 2 Italian LT centers from January 2015 to December 2019. In the second half of the study, starting from July 2017, referring physicians had the option of using eRW-LT, quickly obtaining the judgment on the appropriateness and urgency of the visit from a transplant hepatologist. RESULTS In the second half of the study, there were 99 eRW-LTs and 96 traditional referrals (new tRs), representing a 17.4% increase over the 161 traditional referrals (old tRs) of the first half. With eRW-LT, 11.1% of referrals were judged inappropriate online without booking a visit. Appropriateness, judged at the time of the first visit, was 59.6%, 56.2%, and 94.3% with old tRs, new tRs, and eRW-LT, respectively. Considering the appropriate visits, the median waiting time in days between referral date and first visit appointment was significantly shorter for urgent visits referred with eRW-LT (5.0; 95% CI, 4.8-9.3) compared with nonurgent visits sent with the same system (17.0; 95% CI, 11.5-25.0; P < .0001), those referred with old tRs (14.0; 95% CI, 8.0-23.0; P < .001) and with new tRs (16.0; 95% CI, 10.0-23.0; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS eRW-LT allows an increase in the number of referrals for LT, ensuring effective triage and better appropriateness of visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaminia Ferri
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Martina Milana
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelio Abbatecola
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pintore
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lenci
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Parisse
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Gianluca Mennini
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, Department of Specialistic and Transplant Surgery "Paride Stefanini", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Quirino Lai
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, Department of Specialistic and Transplant Surgery "Paride Stefanini", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Rossi
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, Department of Specialistic and Transplant Surgery "Paride Stefanini", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Angelico
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tisone
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Anselmo
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Angelico
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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