The Impact of Increased Allocation Priority for Children Awaiting Liver Transplant: A Liver Simulated Allocation Model (LSAM) Analysis

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of prioritizing infants, children, adolescents, and the sickest adults (Status 1) for deceased donor livers. We compared outcomes under two “SharePeds” allocation schema, which prioritize children and Status 1 adults for national sharing and enhanced access to pediatric donors or all donors younger than 35 years, to outcomes under the allocation plan approved by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network in December 2017 (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network [OPTN] 12-2017). Methods: The 2017 Liver Simulated Allocation Model and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data on all US liver transplant candidates and liver offers 7/2013 to 6/2016 were used to predict waitlist deaths, transplants, and post-transplant deaths under the OPTN 12-2017 and SharePeds schema. Results: Prioritizing national sharing of pediatric donor livers with children (SharePeds 1) would decrease waitlist deaths for infants (
Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Rapid Communication: Hepatology Source Type: research