Survival for Combined Heart-Lung Transplant (HLT) Recipients over the Past 30 Years

Purpose Comparison outcomes in HLT recipients have not been well described over time. We sought to investigate the impact of era in HLT survival (ERA1: 1987-1998 & ERA2: 1999-2018). Methods We conducted a retrospective, cohort analysis of the UNOS Registry of all HLT patients between 1987-2018, comparing mortality rates between ERA1 & ERA2. Exclusions include age Results 1132 HLT pts were identified from 1987-2018, of which 584 and 548 underwent HLT during ERA1 & ERA2, respectively. ERA2 recipients were more likely to be older (36.9 ± 15.8y vs 32.3 ± 14.1y, p Conclusion Overall, HLT survival improved in the more recent era despite higher risk characteristics. Improvement in survival is likely multifactorial with improved patient selection, surgical technique and post-HLT immunosuppressive management. Further study is warranted to better understand and improve outcomes.