Pediatric heart allocation and transplantation in Eurotransplant. (23rd June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smits, Jacqueline M.; Thul, Josef; De Pauw, Michel; Delmo Walter, Eva; Strelniece, Agita; Green, Dave; de Vries, Erwin; Rahmel, Axel; Bauer, Juergen; Laufer, Guenther; Hetzer, Roland; Reichenspurner, Hermann; Meiser, Bruno
• Is Part Of: Transplant international. Volume 27:Number 9(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 917
• Page End: 925
• Publication Date: 2014-06-23
• Subjects: Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95405
• DOI: 10.1111/tri.12356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0934-0874

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="tri12356-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Pediatric heart allocation in Eurotransplant (ET) has evolved over the past decades to better serve patients and improve utilization. Pediatric heart transplants (HT) account for 6% of the annual transplant volume in ET. Death rates on the pediatric heart transplant waiting list have decreased over the years, from 25% in 1997 to 18% in 2011. Within the first year after listing, 32% of all infants (&lt;12 months), 20% of all children aged 1–10 years, and 15% of all children aged 11–15 years died without having received a heart transplant. Survival after transplantation improved over the years, and in almost a decade, the 1‐year survival went from 83% to 89%, and the 3‐year rates increased from 81% to 85%. Improved medical management of heart failure patients and the availability of mechanical support for children have significantly improved the prospects for children on the heart transplant waiting list.</p> </abstract>