Three-year outcomes after bridge to transplantation ECMO—pre- and post-2018 UNOS revised heart allocation system

Abstract

Three years post-HT survival in patients bridged with ECMO has significantly improved under the revised donor heart allocation system compared to prior system. BTT ECMO recipients under the revised system have significantly shorter ECMO waitlist run times, lower waitlist mortality and 3-year survival similar to those not bridged with ECMO. Overall, the revised allocation system has allowed more rapid transplantation of the sickest patients without a higher post-HT mortality.