Association of cardiac preservation solution with short-term outcomes after heart transplantation

Aims There is wide variability in the practice of cardiac preservation for heart transplantation. Prior reports suggest that the type of solution may be linked with a reduced incidence of posttransplantation complications. Methods Adult (>-18 years old) heart recipients who underwent transplantation between 2015 and 2021 in the United States were examined. Recipients were stratified by solution utilized for their grafts at the time of recovery: University of Wisconsin, histidine- tryptophanketoglutarate (HTK), or Celsior solution. The primary endpoint was a composite of 30-day mortality, primary graft dysfunction, or re-transplantation. Risk adjustment was performed for the recipient, donor, and procedural characteristics using regression modeling. Results Among 16 884 recipients, the group distribution was University of Wisconsin solution 53%, HTK 22%, Celsior solution 15%, and other 10%. The observed incidence of the composite endpoint (University of Wisconsin solutionU3.6%, HTKU4.0%, Celsior solutionU3.7%, PU0.301) and 1-year survival (University of Wisconsin solutionU91.7%, HTKU91.3%, Celsior solutionU91.7%, log-rank PU0.777) were similar between groups. After adjustment, HTK was associated with a higher risk of the composite endpoint [odds ratio (OR) 1.249, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.019- 1.525, PU0.030] in reference to University of Wisconsin solution. This association was substantially increased among recipients with ischemic periods of greater than 4 h (OR 1.817, 95% CI 1.188-2.730, PU0.005). The risks were similar between University of Wisconsin solution and Celsior solution (PU0.454). Conclusion The use of the histidine- tryptophanketoglutarate solution during cold static storage for cardiac preservation is associated with increased rates of early mortality or primary graft dysfunction. Clinician discretion should guide its use, especially when prolonged ischemic times (>4 h) are anticipated.