TY - JOUR
T1 - Extensive use of split liver for pediatric liver transplantation
T2 - A single-center experience
AU - Spada, Marco
AU - Gridelli, Bruno
AU - Colledan, Michele
AU - Segalin, Andrea
AU - Lucianetti, Alessandro
AU - Petz, Wanda
AU - Riva, Silvia
AU - Torre, Giuliano
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - The results of the extensive use of in situ liver splitting in a pediatric liver transplant program are presented. All referred donors were considered for split liver, and when the donor-recipient body weight ratio (DRWR) was greater than 2, the grafts were split. A modified split-liver technique was adopted when the DRWR was 2 or less. Eighty liver procurements were attempted and 72 (90%) were performed, enabling 65 children to receive 42 split, 22 whole, and 8 reduced-size livers. The right portions of the grafts were transplanted by other centers into adults. Median patient waiting time was 22 days, with no mortality on the waiting list. After a median follow-up of 14 months, overall patient and graft survival rates were 85% and 81%, respectively. Fifty-eight children received a single allograft, whereas 7 children required retransplantation. Two-year actuarial survival rates were 85% for split-liver recipients, 84% for whole-liver recipients, and 67% for reduced-size liver recipients. Vascular complications developed in 18% of the patients, with no difference among the 3 groups with different technique. Biliary complications developed in 25% of the children, mainly in reduced-size and split-liver recipients. Patient and graft survival rates for right split-liver grafts were 84% and 79%, respectively. Adopting a liberal policy of liver splitting provides allografts of optimal quality for pediatric transplantation, allowing a dramatic decrease in the waiting list time. The in situ split-liver technique should be considered the method of choice for expanding the cadaveric liver donor pool.
AB - The results of the extensive use of in situ liver splitting in a pediatric liver transplant program are presented. All referred donors were considered for split liver, and when the donor-recipient body weight ratio (DRWR) was greater than 2, the grafts were split. A modified split-liver technique was adopted when the DRWR was 2 or less. Eighty liver procurements were attempted and 72 (90%) were performed, enabling 65 children to receive 42 split, 22 whole, and 8 reduced-size livers. The right portions of the grafts were transplanted by other centers into adults. Median patient waiting time was 22 days, with no mortality on the waiting list. After a median follow-up of 14 months, overall patient and graft survival rates were 85% and 81%, respectively. Fifty-eight children received a single allograft, whereas 7 children required retransplantation. Two-year actuarial survival rates were 85% for split-liver recipients, 84% for whole-liver recipients, and 67% for reduced-size liver recipients. Vascular complications developed in 18% of the patients, with no difference among the 3 groups with different technique. Biliary complications developed in 25% of the children, mainly in reduced-size and split-liver recipients. Patient and graft survival rates for right split-liver grafts were 84% and 79%, respectively. Adopting a liberal policy of liver splitting provides allografts of optimal quality for pediatric transplantation, allowing a dramatic decrease in the waiting list time. The in situ split-liver technique should be considered the method of choice for expanding the cadaveric liver donor pool.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 10915162
AN - SCOPUS:0033929187
VL - 6
SP - 415
EP - 428
JO - Liver Transplantation
JF - Liver Transplantation
SN - 1527-6465
IS - 4
ER -