Houston-based Memorial Hermann recorded more waitlist deaths among patients waiting for a liver transplant than expected in the years leading up to the recent halt of its liver and kidney transplant programs, according to analysis of data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients by reporters at the Houston Chronicle.
The analysis found that liver transplant volumes at the hospital have been falling since at least 2015. From 2015 to 2019, Memorial Hermann recorded performing more transplants and fewer waitlist deaths than expected, representing a strong performance when stacked against its peers, according to the analysis. Between 2019 and 2021, and from July 2021 to June 2023 — the most recent period for which registry data is available — transplant volumes fell to lower levels than expected when compared to programs with similar patient populations.
Meanwhile, during the most recent period through June 2023, pre-transplant deaths increased sharply. Last year, the hospital's liver program recorded nine waitlist deaths, the most since 2006.
Jon Snyder, PhD, director of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, said "the program's rate of transplanting patients is declining relative to what we'd expect for the type of patients on their waitlist, and an increasing pretransplant mortality rate indicates that the rate at which patients are dying after being listed … is increasing relative to what is expected for the types of patients on their list." He did not speculate on the trend of why volumes had declined while waitlist death numbers rose, and the Chronicle emphasized it is not clear whether the performance data is connected to the current controversy surrounding Memorial Hermann's liver transplant programs.
Federal agencies are currently investigating allegations that a transplant surgeon at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center altered patient records, potentially preventing some patients from getting lifesaving care. On April 4, Memorial Hermann voluntarily halted liver transplants, saying it had been made aware of a pattern of "irregularities with donor acceptance criteria." Days later, the kidney transplant program was also paused.
Memorial Hermann declined the news outlet's request to interview physicians on the trends and shared the following statement:
"It is important to keep in mind that a comprehensive and thoughtful analysis must consider all factors, (including) patient acuity, as we typically treat higher-acuity transplant patients than many of our peers. Our primary priority continues to be ensuring the continuity of compassionate care and support for patients and families."
Becker's has reached out to Memorial Hermann and will update this story as more information becomes available.
The Chronicle's analysis also found the hospital's donor offer acceptance ratio fell more than nearly any other liver transplant program in the U.S. from 2016 to 2023. The full report can be found here.