Understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation

Abstract A 4-h preservation time threshold for cardiac allografts is the current standard in heart transplantation, but novel technologies are proposed to decrease the morbidity associated with prolonged allograft storage. This study examined adult heart transplant recipients from 2000–2015 and 2020...

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Main Authors: Chen Chia Wang, Jessica B. Briscoe, Corbin E. Goerlich, Rachael Quinn, Daniel Ragheb, Shivani Shirodkar, Antonio Polanco, Ahmet Kilic, Kavita Sharma, James Gammie, Ashish S. Shah, Chetan Pasrija
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96544-z
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author Chen Chia Wang
Jessica B. Briscoe
Corbin E. Goerlich
Rachael Quinn
Daniel Ragheb
Shivani Shirodkar
Antonio Polanco
Ahmet Kilic
Kavita Sharma
James Gammie
Ashish S. Shah
Chetan Pasrija
author_facet Chen Chia Wang
Jessica B. Briscoe
Corbin E. Goerlich
Rachael Quinn
Daniel Ragheb
Shivani Shirodkar
Antonio Polanco
Ahmet Kilic
Kavita Sharma
James Gammie
Ashish S. Shah
Chetan Pasrija
author_sort Chen Chia Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A 4-h preservation time threshold for cardiac allografts is the current standard in heart transplantation, but novel technologies are proposed to decrease the morbidity associated with prolonged allograft storage. This study examined adult heart transplant recipients from 2000–2015 and 2020–2023 in the United States, stratified into an early (2000–2015) and modern era (2020–2023), then into standard (≤ 4 h) and prolonged (≥ 5 h) preservation time groups within each era. This study reinforced the 4-h threshold in the early era, where prolonged preservation significantly increased one-year mortality (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.36–1.90). However, this association was no longer significant in the modern era (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.85–1.50). A sub-analysis showed that using machine perfusion devices for allograft storage was not associated with one-year mortality (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.79–1.70). Spline analysis demonstrated possible inflection points between 4 and 5 h and 8–9 h in the modern era, and further analysis found that 5–8 h of preservation did not increase one-year mortality (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.80–1.47) relative to the ≤ 4 h group. In conclusion, the association between cardiac allograft preservation duration and morbidity has decreased in the modern era. Today, a 4-h preservation duration threshold may be too restrictive.
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spelling doaj-art-7d0d8218db85432fa7bc7a5ca0ebb7fc2025-08-20T03:18:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-96544-zUnderstanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantationChen Chia Wang0Jessica B. Briscoe1Corbin E. Goerlich2Rachael Quinn3Daniel Ragheb4Shivani Shirodkar5Antonio Polanco6Ahmet Kilic7Kavita Sharma8James Gammie9Ashish S. Shah10Chetan Pasrija11Vanderbilt University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineVanderbilt University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterDivision of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineAbstract A 4-h preservation time threshold for cardiac allografts is the current standard in heart transplantation, but novel technologies are proposed to decrease the morbidity associated with prolonged allograft storage. This study examined adult heart transplant recipients from 2000–2015 and 2020–2023 in the United States, stratified into an early (2000–2015) and modern era (2020–2023), then into standard (≤ 4 h) and prolonged (≥ 5 h) preservation time groups within each era. This study reinforced the 4-h threshold in the early era, where prolonged preservation significantly increased one-year mortality (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.36–1.90). However, this association was no longer significant in the modern era (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.85–1.50). A sub-analysis showed that using machine perfusion devices for allograft storage was not associated with one-year mortality (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.79–1.70). Spline analysis demonstrated possible inflection points between 4 and 5 h and 8–9 h in the modern era, and further analysis found that 5–8 h of preservation did not increase one-year mortality (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.80–1.47) relative to the ≤ 4 h group. In conclusion, the association between cardiac allograft preservation duration and morbidity has decreased in the modern era. Today, a 4-h preservation duration threshold may be too restrictive.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96544-zHeart transplantDonor allocation policyOrgan preservationMachine perfusionStatic cold storageOne-year survival
spellingShingle Chen Chia Wang
Jessica B. Briscoe
Corbin E. Goerlich
Rachael Quinn
Daniel Ragheb
Shivani Shirodkar
Antonio Polanco
Ahmet Kilic
Kavita Sharma
James Gammie
Ashish S. Shah
Chetan Pasrija
Understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation
Scientific Reports
Heart transplant
Donor allocation policy
Organ preservation
Machine perfusion
Static cold storage
One-year survival
title Understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation
title_full Understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation
title_fullStr Understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation
title_full_unstemmed Understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation
title_short Understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation
title_sort understanding preservation time thresholds in the modern era of heart transplantation
topic Heart transplant
Donor allocation policy
Organ preservation
Machine perfusion
Static cold storage
One-year survival
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96544-z
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