Combined heart-lung organ allocation: A glitch in the system

Abstract

Organ allocation guidelines prioritize patients at risk of waitlist mortality. In the United States, both the heart and lung allocation systems were revised within the last ten years. There is no specific allocation system for patients listed for combined heart-lung transplant. With updates to the heart and lung allocation systems, we have observed that combined heart-lung transplant patients can face unnecessarily long wait times. A focused listing pathway to better prioritize potential combined heart-lung transplant recipients could help ensure the appropriate patients are transplanted effectively and efficiently.

Keywords: Allocations system; Combined heart-lung transplant; Heart transplant; Lung transplant.