OPTN/SRTR 2021 Annual Data Report: Vascularized Composite Allograft

Year 2020 marked the first OPTN/SRTR Annual Data Report that included a chapter on vascularized composite allograft (VCA), which encompassed reviews of data collected between 2014 (when VCA was included in the Final Rule) and 2020. The present Annual Data Report shows that the number of VCA recipients in the United States continues to be small and trended downward in 2021. While data continue to be limited by sample size, trends continue to show a predominance in White, young/middle-aged, male recipients. Similar to the 2020 report, eight uterus and one non-uterus VCA graft failures were reported from 2014 through 2021. Critical to advancement of VCA transplantation will be the standardization of definitions, protocols, and outcome measures for the different VCA types. Like intestinal transplants, it is likely that VCA transplants will be concentrated and performed at referral transplant centers.