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Pediatric transplantation in Europe during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Early impact on activity and healthcare
Author(s) -
Doná Daniele,
Torres Canizales Juan,
Benetti Elisa,
Cananzi Mara,
De Corti Federica,
Calore Elisabetta,
Hierro Loreto,
Ramos Boluda Esther,
Melgosa Hijosa Marta,
Garcia Guereta Luis,
Pérez Martínez Antonio,
Barrios Maribel,
Costa Reis Patricia,
Teixeira Ana,
Lopes Maria Francelina,
Kaliciński Piotr,
Branchereau Sophie,
Boyer Olivia,
Debray Dominque,
Sciveres Marco,
Wennberg Lars,
Fischler Björn,
Barany Peter,
Baker Alastair,
Baumann Ulrich,
Schwerk Nicolaus,
Nicastro Emanuele,
Candusso Manila,
Toporski Jacek,
Sokal Etienne,
Stephenne Xavier,
Lindemans Caroline,
Miglinas Marius,
Rascon Jelena,
Jara Paloma
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.14063
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , pandemic , covid-19 , health care , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , disease , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , family medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , economic growth
The current pandemic SARS‐CoV‐2 has required an unusual allocation of resources that can negatively impact chronically ill patients and high‐complexity procedures. Across the European Reference Network on Pediatric Transplantation (ERN TransplantChild), we conducted a survey to investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak on pediatric transplant activity and healthcare practices in both solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The replies of 30 professionals from 18 centers in Europe were collected. Twelve of 18 centers (67%) showed a reduction in their usual transplant activity. Additionally, outpatient visits have been modified and restricted to selected ones, and the use of telemedicine tools has increased. Additionally, a total of 14 COVID‐19 pediatric transplanted patients were identified at the time of the survey, including eight transplant recipients and six candidates for transplantation. Only two moderate‐severe cases were reported, both in HSCT setting. These survey results demonstrate the limitations in healthcare resources for pediatric transplantation patients during early stages of this pandemic. COVID‐19 disease is a major worldwide challenge for the field of pediatric transplantation, where there will be a need for systematic data collection, encouraging regular discussions to address the long‐term consequences for pediatric transplantation candidates, recipients, and their families.