key: cord-0945019-9psz9n76
authors: Haidar, Fadi; Issa, Naim; Gourinat, Ann-Claire; Savalle, Magali; Chalus, Elodie; Laurence, Jerome; Chadban, Steven; Wyburn, Kate
title: The "New Caledonia COVID-19 Paradox": Dramatic Indirect Impact of the Pandemic on Organ Donation and Transplantation in a Non-prevalence Country
date: 2021-07-22
journal: Kidney Int Rep
DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2021.07.007
sha: 4657d904ed391057a3b7aa7a0e42f4e1d05a8880
doc_id: 945019
cord_uid: 9psz9n76

nan

).

The indirect impact of the pandemic was even more than reported for countries with authenticated epidemics (3) (4) . Multiple factors explain this New Caledonian COVID-19 paradox. First, halting elective surgeries was deleterious on the newly-established livingdonor transplant program established less than one year prior in almost complete autonomy. Second, the reduced mobility of surgeons from expert centers in France and Australia was also an essential factor. Finally, patients could not travel to France or Australia for the more complex living-donor transplants that could not be performed locally in New Caledonia. This COVID-19 collateral effect on kidney transplantation was much more deleterious than the direct effect of the COVID-19 epidemic itself. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic protective closure measures nipped this country's local kidney transplant program in the bud.

COVID-19: The New Caledonia Experience

Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation in New Caledonia: A Unique Collaboration With Australia

Significant impact of COVID-19 on organ donation and transplantation in a low-prevalence country

Organ procurement and transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Data for COVID-19 epidemiology were obtained from the Centre Hospitalier Territorial Gaston-Bourret (CHT) in New Caledonia and Johns Hopkins University.

All authors declare no competing interests.

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