One-Year Survival Worse for Lung Retransplants Relative to Primary Lung Transplants

Outcomes after lung retransplantation (LRT) remain inferior compared with primary lung transplantation (PLT). This study examined the impact of center volume on 1-year survival after LRT.

Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, the study abstracted patients undergoing PLT and LRT between January 2006 and December 2017, excluding combined heart-lung transplants and multiple retransplants. One-year survival rates after PLT and LRT were compared using propensity score matching. In the LRT cohort, multivariable Cox models with and without time-dependent coefficients were fitted to examine association between transplant center volume and 1-year survival. Center volume was categorized on the basis of inspection of restricted cubic splines.

A total of 20,675 recipients (PLT 19,853 [96.0%] vs LRT 822 [4.0%]) were included. One-year survival was lower for LRT recipients in the matched cohort (PLT 84.8% vs LRT 76.7%). There was steady improvement in 1-year survival after LRT (2006 to 2009 72.1% vs 2010 to 2013 76.6% vs 2014 to 2017 80.1%). Higher center volume was associated with better 1-year survival after LRT. This survival difference was noted in the initial 30 days after transplantation (intermediate vs low volume hazard ratio, 0.282 [95% confidence interval, 0.151 to 0.526]; high vs low volume hazard ratio, 0.406 [95% confidence interval, 0.224 to 0.737]), but it became insignificant after 30 days.

Superior 1-year survival after LRT at higher-volume centers is predominantly the result of better 30-day outcomes. This finding suggests that LRT candidates may be referred to higher-volume centers for surgery.