Why the study?
The study evaluated the impact of the 2018 allocation policy change on outcomes of orthotopic heart transplantation in patients bridged with intra-aortic balloon pumps.
Does the 2018 allocation policy change affect waitlist outcomes and post-transplant mortality in adult patients bridged to heart transplantation with an intra-aortic balloon pump?
Does the 2018 allocation policy change affect waitlist outcomes and post-transplant mortality in adult patients bridged to heart transplantation with an intra-aortic balloon pump?
The 2018 heart allocation policy change was associated with a greater than 3-fold increase in IABP utilization for bridging to transplant, yielding improved waitlist outcomes and comparable post-transplant survival.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports expanded IABP bridging post-2018 policy; leaves open causal effects versus selection bias in observational data.
BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the impact of the 2018 allocation policy change on outcomes of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in patients bridged with intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs). METHODS: Adult (≥18 years) patients undergoing OHT between 2013 and 2019 who were bridged with an IABP were stratified based on temporal relation to the policy change. Univariate analysis was used to compare baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to estimate risk-adjusted predictors of post-transplant mortality. CONCLUSIONS: IABP utilization has increased over 3-fold since the 2018 policy change with improved waitlist outcomes and comparable post-OHT survival. Thus, bridging patients to OHT with IABPs appears to be an effective strategy in the current era.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Huckaby et al. (2020) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: