INTRODUCTION:
Heart transplantation remains the definitive therapy for patients who suffer from end-stage heart failure. Since it was first performed in 1967, the number of patients who have benefited from this therapy has continued to increase1,2. The past two decades have seen the introduction of new, improved immunosuppression which has allowed for longer allograft survival and innovations in donor recovery. The organ donor pool has been expanded by the utilization of hepatitis C donors and ex vivo perfusion platforms3. These developments hold promise for the meaningful increase in the number of adult heart transplants performed in the United States.
The spring of 2020 saw the widespread recognition of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has had a global impact. In the United States, the affect has been wide ranging. Nowhere has this been more apparent than the healthcare landscape. An increase in demand for hospital beds for COVID-19 positive patients coupled with hospital-driven initiatives to reduce non-emergent treatments has resulted in a nation-wide reduction in operative volume4. Moreover, patient concerns regarding infection with COVID-19 has resulted in many patients deferring medical care for both major and minor concerns5. At its worst, we witnessed reduction in case volume between 20-90% compared to last year across all service lines at our hospital.
The impact of COVID-19 on the availability of donor organs and the impact on solid organ transplant remains unclear. Here we examine the impact of COVID-19 on a single, large-volume heart transplant program.