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Why haven't transplant numbers recovered post COVID-19? Evaluating a national cardiothoracic centre

Ross Walsh1,2, Jamie Walsh3,4, Robert Doyle4

  • 1Royal College of Surgeons, 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland. rosspwalsh@gmail.com.

Irish Journal of Medical Science
|August 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Cardiothoracic surgery activity has largely recovered post-COVID-19, but transplant volumes and aortic procedures remain below pre-pandemic levels. Targeted interventions are needed to address these persistent impacts on patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Transplant Services
  • Public Health Impact of Pandemics

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global cardiothoracic surgery and transplant services.
  • An initial study in 2020 reported a 50% reduction in activity during March-April 2020.
  • This study assesses the persistent impacts and recovery patterns five years after the pandemic's onset.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiothoracic surgery and transplant volumes.
  • To identify specific procedures and transplant types that have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
  • To inform targeted interventions for service recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of prospectively collected data from a National Cardiothoracic Transplant Unit (2019-2025).
  • Comparison of annual procedure volumes to 2019 baseline data.
  • Subgroup analyses by surgical procedure type and patient acuity.

Main Results:

  • Cardiothoracic surgery volumes recovered to 96% of 2019 levels by 2025, with CABG and valve surgery exceeding baseline.
  • Aortic surgery recovery reached 78% of 2019 levels by 2025.
  • Transplant volumes (heart and lung) remain at 50% of pre-pandemic levels, with no significant increase since 2020.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiothoracic surgery services have largely rebounded by 2024, indicating successful adaptation.
  • Transplant services and aortic procedures face significant, persistent deficits, requiring focused attention.
  • Targeted strategies are essential to address backlogs and improve transplant service capacity in Ireland.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Cardiac surgeryIrelandPandemicRecoveryTransplant

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