Harbell, Jack W.

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) enables preservation and functional assessment of liver allografts, improving outcomes, particularly in marginal organs. However, the TransMedics Organ Care System (OCS) permits only single hepatic artery (HA) cannulation, limiting its use in grafts with variant arterial anatomy. Arterial reconstruction before NMP may overcome this limitation and expand the pool of grafts eligible for perfusion. We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study of adult liver transplants utilizing OCS from January 2022 to September 2024. Allografts with variant hepatic artery anatomy requiring arterial reconstruction before NMP initiation were identified. Postoperative outcomes, including vascular and biliary complications, were compared between reconstructed and non-reconstructed grafts. Among 541 OCS-preserved grafts, 74 (13.7%) underwent arterial reconstruction. Compared with non-reconstructed grafts, reconstructed grafts had longer cross-clamp to cannulation time (2.8 vs. 2.4 h, p <0.001), but similar rates of early allograft dysfunction (23.0% vs. 20.8%, p =0.65), ischemic cholangiopathy (4.1% vs. 4.1%, p =1.00), and primary nonfunction (0.0% vs. 0.4%, p =1.00). Early (2.7% vs. 0.2%, p =0.05) and late hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) (4.1% vs. 2.1%, p =0.40) were infrequent and not significantly different between non-reconstructed and reconstructed groups, respectively. Hepatic artery stenosis occurred more often in reconstructed grafts (12.2% vs. 4.1%, p =0.008), though most cases were managed with interventional radiology or surgical revision. Only one reconstructed graft required retransplantation due to vascular complications. Arterial reconstruction before NMP is safe and feasible, enabling successful perfusion and transplantation of liver allografts with variant HA anatomy. These findings support the broader application of NMP in anatomically complex donor livers.

Abstract Donor-derived tuberculosis is a rare complication following solid organ transplantation, and tuberculosis screening is not a current transplant prerequisite for most donors. Donor-derived tuberculosis usually presents sooner than reactivation tuberculosis, and the most common finding is fever. We present 3 cases of donor-derived tuberculosis in the recipients of 2 kidneys and 1 liver from the same donor, who presented with unexplained fevers occurring 4–5 weeks after transplantation. Initial antibacterial therapy failed in all 3 patients, leading to further testing, which identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis by culture and molecular studies. All recipients successfully received tuberculosis therapy but had significant morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. Donor-derived tuberculosis should be among the differential diagnoses of unexplained fever in solid organ transplant recipients in the first few months after transplantation. Screening protocols should be implemented for donors with an epidemiologic risk of tuberculosis, with special emphasis on deceased donors.

Importance Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has been shown to reduce peritransplant complications. Despite increasing NMP use in liver transplant (LT), there is a scarcity of real-world clinical experience data. Objective To compare LT outcomes between donation after brain death (DBD) and donation after circulatory death (DCD) allografts preserved with NMP or static cold storage (SCS). Design, Setting, and Participants This single-center, retrospective observational cohort study included all consecutive adult LTs performed between January 2019 and December 2023 at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Data analysis was performed between February 2024 and June 2024. Outcomes of DBD-SCS, DBD-NMP, DCD-SCS, and DCD-NMP transplants were compared. Exposure DBD and DCD livers preserved on NMP or SCS. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were early allograft dysfunction (EAD), intraoperative transfusion, and post-LT hospital resource use, including length of stay (LOS) and readmissions. Secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury (AKI) and 1-year graft and patient survival. Results A total of 1086 LTs were included in the following 4 groups: DBD-SCS (n = 480), DBD-NMP (n = 63), DCD-SCS (n = 264), and DCD-NMP (n = 279). Among LT recipients, median (IQR) age was 60.0 years (52.0-66.0); 399 LT recipients (36.7%) were female. DCD-NMP had the lowest EAD rate (17.5%), followed by DCD-SCS (50.0%), DBD-NMP (36.8%), and DBD-SCS (27.3%) ( P &amp;lt; .001). DCD-NMP had the lowest intraoperative transfusion requirement compared to all other groups. Hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS were shortest in DCD-NMP (median [IQR] hospital LOS, 5.0 days [4.0-7.0]; P = .01; median [IQR] ICU LOS, 1.5 days [1.2-3.1]; P = .01). One-year cumulative readmission probability was 86% lower for DCD-NMP vs DCD-SCS (95% CI, 0.09-0.22; P &amp;lt; .001) and 53% lower for DBD-NMP vs DBD-SCS (95% CI, 0.26-0.87; P &amp;lt; .001). AKI events were lower in DCD-NMP (31.1%) vs DCD-SCS (47.4%) ( P = .001). Compared to SCS, the NMP group had a 78% overall reduction in graft failure (hazard ratio [HR], 0.22; 95% CI, 0.10-0.49; P &amp;lt; .001). For those receiving DCD allografts, the risk reduction was even more pronounced, with an 87% decrease in graft failure (HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.05-0.33; P &amp;lt; .001). NMP was significantly protective from patient mortality vs SCS (HR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.12-0.80; P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance In this observational high-volume cohort study, NMP significantly improved LT clinical outcomes and reduced hospital resource use, especially in DCD allografts. NMP may enhance access to LT by addressing the challenges historically linked with DCD liver use.

AbstractBackgroundPatients undergoing kidney transplantation traditionally receive liberal amounts of fluid during surgery. However, excessive fluids can lead to fluid overload and ileus. In this retrospective cohort study, we compared the effect of restrictive versus liberal fluid therapy on kidney transplantation outcomes.MethodsPatients who underwent deceased‐donor kidney transplantation at Mayo Clinic from January 2014 to March 2019 were included. Those who received <3 L of intravenous fluids intraoperatively were categorized as “restrictive;” those who received ≥3 L were categorized as “liberal.” The primary outcome was incidence of delayed graft function (DGF). Secondary outcomes included length of stay, readmission within 30 days, time to return of bowel function, and incidence of postoperative complications.ResultsOf the 1171 patients included, 557 were in the restrictive group and 614 in the liberal group. The mean (SD) fluid intake was 2.17 (.54) L in the restrictive group and 3.67 (.68) L in the liberal group (P<.001). There was no difference in DGF (relative risk, 1.03; P = .56), length of stay (P = .34), readmission (P = .80), return of bowel function (P = .71), or other postoperative complications.ConclusionsIntraoperative restrictive fluid therapy during kidney transplantation was not associated with DGF or worse outcomes when compared with liberal fluid therapy.

AbstractEarly pancreas loss in simultaneous pancreas–kidney (SPK) transplants has been associated with longer perioperative recovery and reduced kidney allograft function. We assessed the impact of early pancreas allograft failure on transplant outcomes in a contemporary cohort of SPK patients (n = 218). Early pancreas allograft loss occurred in 12.8% (n = 28) of recipients. Delayed graft function (DGF) was more common (21.4% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.03) in the early pancreas loss group, but there were no differences in hospital length of stay (median 6.5 vs. 7.0, p = 0.22), surgical wound complications (p = 0.12), or rejection episodes occurring in the first year (p = 0.87). Despite differences in DGF, both groups had excellent renal function at 1 year post‐transplant (eGFR 64.1 ± 20.8 vs. 65.8 ± 22.9, p = 0.75). There were no differences in patient (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.18–1.87, p = 0.26) or kidney allograft survival (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.23–3.06, p = 0.77). One‐ and 2‐year protocol kidney biopsies were comparable between the groups and showed minimal chronic changes; the early pancreas loss group showed more cv changes at 2 years (p = 0.04). Current data demonstrate good outcomes and excellent kidney allograft function following early pancreas loss.