Korean J Transplant.  2020 Dec;34(Supple 1):S193. 10.4285/ATW2020.OP-1258.

High success rate of liver and kidney transplant during seven months COVID-19 period

• Karakaya E
• Akdur A
• Soy EA
• Karakayali FY
• Yildirim S
• Torgay A
• Sayin CB
• Moray G
• Haberal M

• KMID: 2509383
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2020.OP-1258

Abstract

Background
During the pandemic, so many centers have postponed transplant surgery. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate our liver and kidney transplant during the pandemic period.
Methods
During 7 months in the pandemic period, we performed 49 kidneys and 14 liver transplant. Before the transplant procedure, all candidates were screened for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Also, we recorded transplantation age, sex, graft type, post-transplant laboratory values complications, and length of stay.
Results
In this period we performed 49 kidney and 14 liver transplants. In the kidney group, five recipients were a child. Thirty-two patients (65%) were male. Adult kidney recipients' mean age was 39.5 years and children were 4, 6, 14, 15, and 16 years. Recipients were treated in transplant service after surgery. All patients were discharged with normal laboratory values. In the liver transplant group, ten patients were a child and four patients were adults. All liver transplants were living donor liver transplants. The mean age of child patients was 24.2 months. One liver recipient died due to oxalosis induced heart failure and one liver recipient died due to intracranial bleeding. Other patients were discharged with normal liver functions. Both kidney and liver donors were discharged without any problem.
Conclusions
Our results showed that transplant surgery can be performed during a pandemic safely with the exclusion of COVID.