Data on out-of-ice implantation ischemia in heart transplant are scarce. We examined implantation time’s impact on allograft dysfunction.METHODS: We conducted a single-site retrospective review of all primary adult heart transplants from June 2012 to August 2019 for implantation warm ischemic time (WIT), defined as first atrial stitch to aortic crossclamp removal.

Univariate regression was used to assess the relationship of perioperative variables to primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and to pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi) at postoperative hour 24. A threshold of p < .10 was set for the inclusion of covariates in multivariate regression.

Secondary analyses evaluated for consistency among alternative criteria for allograft dysfunction.

A post hoc subgroup analysis examined WIT effect in prolonged total ischemia of 240 min or longer.

Complete data were available for 201 patients.

Baseline characteristics were similar between patients who did and did not have WIT documented.

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