Proceedings of the XVIIth World Congress of the Transplantation Society
Review of the current state of thoracic transplantation: a national prospective cohort study

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Methods

All nine transplant units in the UK contribute data to the UK Cardiothoracic Transplant Audit. Data are collected when patients are registered on the national waiting list, at transplant and at designated follow-up points. Data for the first 30 months (April 1995 to September 1997) of this audit form the cohort for this analysis. These data represent an almost complete national cohort (only 2% data unavailable). Legislation ensures that all transplants are reported, thereby avoiding selection

Results

A total of 1601 patients were placed on the waiting list, 929 heart (HT) (mean age 49.4 years, SD 9.7 years; M:F 5.4:1; 7% UNOS Status 1), 468 lung (LT) (mean age 45.7, SD 11.8; M:F 1.1:1), 204 heart/lung (HLT) (mean age 33.7, SD 11.0; M:F 0.7:1). As of June 1998, 917 (620 HT, 219 LT, 78 HLT) had undergone transplantation. The median time in days from listing to transplant was 159 (HT), 353 (LT), and 563 (HLT) with 23% HT, 32% LT, and 37% HLT patients waiting in excess of 12 months for a

Discussion

Several series, mostly single centre ones, continue to report improving outcomes for thoracic transplantation. These results may, however, not be representative of national or global practice, as research findings and new technologies may not be easily applicable or equally efficacious in routine clinical practice. National cohort studies are helpful in determining the extent to which published findings have been replicated elsewhere. National data, rather than the experience in selected units,

References (1)

  • UKTSSA: Thoracic organ transplant audit (1985–1992), Bristol: UKTSSA;...

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