Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Donor hearts that have undergone cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were previously considered marginal donors. We aimed to determine how donor CPR influences recipient outcomes (CPR+ vs CPR-). Additionally, we evaluated the overall use of CPR+ donor hearts in the modern era. METHODS: All single heart organ transplants in the United States from 2014 to 2023 were obtained for adults older than age 18 years. Survival curves were built for overall and graft survival using a Kaplan-Meier method with a log-rank test used to test for differences. Multivariate Cox-regression was performed on recipient survival with CPR status and other recipient variables as covariates. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2023, there were 13 994 CPR- donors and 15 601 CPR+ donors throughout the study period. There was no significant difference in patient survival at 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years (P = .09). Graft survival over 5 years was similar between subgroups of CPR ≤15 minutes, 16 to 30 minutes, or >30 minutes (P = .94). Use of heart transplants from donors resuscitated using CPR increased throughout the study, with CPR+ donors representing >50% of all donors since 2017. CONCLUSIONS: Heart donors who are CPR+ are being used at an increased frequency and now represent most donors. CPR+ hearts have statistically equivalent patient and graft survival outcomes over 5 years. Hearts that have undergone CPR, even for periods of >30 minutes, can be safely utilized.