in focus
Multi-organ transplant (MOT) combinations and their frequencies performed in the U.S. from 2013–2017
Based on data from the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).
The number of multi-organ transplants (MOT), excluding kidney/pancreas and heart/lung, has nearly doubled in the past six years from 625 procedures in 2012 to 1,035 in 2017.
This increase raises ethical questions that call for greater consistency in allocation strategy (currently, allocation for multi-organ transplant (MOT) combinations is not consistent across organ types). The OPTN Ethics Committee analyzed policy and relevant literature focusing on the potential conflict in the principles of equity and utility in the allocation of MOT.
For example, the graph below shows that MOT recipients commonly receive lower KDPI kidneys—or those that have longer-than-expected graft function—than single-organ transplant (SOT) recipients. This could disadvantage SOT candidates because they are less likely to receive kidneys with the longest expected function.
Distribution of KDPI for deceased donor kidney recipients by multi-organ (MOT) status during 2015-2017
Read the Ethics Committee white paper that examines the implications of MOT and provides an ethical framework for allocation policy changes. Plus, review public comments on the proposal.
In focus
Kidney transplants increase across all populations following policy changes
New policies were predicted to increase equity through broader sharing.
Analyzing equity in access to kidney transplants in the COVID-19 era
Data show transplants for four major ethnic groups rebounded after initial decline, Hispanics had steepest decline and smallest rebound.
Analysis of allocation changes for en bloc deceased donor kidneys
Data shows that the proportion of en bloc transplants to low EPTS patients more than doubled after implementation.
Analyzing the impact of transplant policy and system modifications in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Data reveals the community’s continued commitment to provide the best care to their patients.
