Databases for pediatric cardiac transplantation: The united network for organ sharing/scientific registry of transplant recipients (unos/srtr) and the pediatric heart transplant study (PHTS)

Abstract

Collection, analysis, and dissemination of data have been part of the transplantation since its earliest days. The two largest databases containing information on pediatric cardiac transplant patients are the United Network for Organ Sharing/Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (UNOS/SRTR) database and the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS). These data have enabled examination of patients undergoing transplantation, including modeling of outcomes, analysis of allocation decisions, and the examination of criteria for listing. Extensive literature exists utilizing this data, but must be read critically, recognizing the limitations presented by missing variables (whether uncollected or collected but left blank), reproducibility, and small sample sizes among pediatric patients. However, despite these limitations, these datasets provide an important resource in the ongoing examination of cardiac transplantation in children.