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Liver transplantation during the COVID-19 epidemic : recommendations from the Belgian Liver Intestine Transplant

G Dahlqvist1, O Ciccarelli1, H Van Vlierberghe2

  • 1UCL Liver Transplant Program; Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.

Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica
|July 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for liver transplantation (LTx) in Belgium, impacting organ donation and patient safety. Recommendations were made to mitigate these effects and ensure safe LTx practices during the health crisis.

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Hepatology
  • Transplantation

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, starting in January 2020, significantly disrupted global health systems.
  • Belgium faced the COVID-19 epidemic in March 2020, leading to widespread uncertainty.
  • Healthcare professionals demonstrated remarkable adaptability in reconverting facilities for COVID-19 patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address concerns regarding organ donation and liver transplantation (LTx) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium.
  • To evaluate the ethical considerations of utilizing limited healthcare resources for LTx amidst the epidemic.
  • To propose recommendations for safe and effective LTx practices during the COVID-19 crisis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on liver transplantation protocols.
  • Analysis of ethical dilemmas concerning resource allocation in LTx.
  • Formulation of recommendations by BeLIAC based on available resources and safety considerations.

Main Results:

  • Concerns identified include organ donation shortages, safety of LTx procedures, ethical resource use, and infection risks.
  • Potential for de novo COVID-19 infection in patients awaiting or undergoing LTx.
  • Development of recommendations to minimize the adverse effects of the pandemic on donation and LTx.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant challenges to liver transplantation programs.
  • Careful consideration of organ donation, patient selection, and safety protocols is crucial.
  • Recommendations aim to optimize patient and healthcare professional safety while maintaining LTx services.

Keywords:
Covid-19 epidemicliver transplantationresources

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