Introduction of Share 35 Interregional Allocation for High MELD Liver TransplantWaiting List Patients in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Introduction Patients with high MELD scores awaiting liver transplantation have a high risk of waiting list mortality and a short window of opportunity for rescue. This issue is particularly acute in parts of the world with a relatively low deceased organ donor rate and sparse population, such as Australia and New Zealand. Following a prospective study of liver transplant waiting list patients in Australia and New Zealand whose MELD score reached 35 during the period October 2013 to April 2015 and analysis of models of sharing deceased donor livers between units, based on data collected during the prospective study, it was agreed to commence a voluntary trial of sharing of livers for patient..