Kidney exchange simulation and optimization

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Santos, N (Author) Other; Tubertini, P (Author) Other; Viana, A (Author) Other; Joao Pedro Pedroso (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of the Operational Research Society

Vol. 68

Pages: 1521-1532

ISSN: 0160-5682

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 14 Citations

Scopus - 18 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-E9P

DOI: 10.1057/s41274-016-0174-3

Abstract (EN): One of the challenges in a kidney exchange program (KEP) is to choose policies that ensure an effective and fair management of all participating patients. In order to understand the implications of different policies of patient allocation and pool management, decision makers should be supported by a simulation tool capable of tackling realistic exchange pools and modeling their dynamic behavior. In this paper, we propose a KEP simulator that takes into consideration the wide typology of actors found in practice (incompatible pairs, altruistic donors, and compatible pairs) and handles different matching policies. Additionally, it includes the possibility of evaluating the impact of positive crossmatch of a selected transplant, and of dropouts, in a dynamic environment. Results are compared to those obtained with a complete information model, with knowledge of future events, which provides an upper bound to the objective values. Final results show that shorter time intervals between matches lead to higher number of effective transplants and to shorter waiting times for patients. Furthermore, the inclusion of compatible pairs is essential to match pairs of specific patient-donor blood type. In particular, O-blood type patients benefit greatly from this inclusion.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12