Korean J Transplant.  2022 Nov;36(Supple 1):S68. 10.4285/ATW2022.F-1844.

Liver transplantation: a 10-year low-volume transplant center experience in Kazakhstan

• Saparbay J
• Spatayev J

• KMID: 2535486
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2022.F-1844

Abstract

Background
Liver transplantation is the best available treatment option for patients with end-stage liver disease. The organ transplantation program in Kazakhstan started in 2010. Here we present 10-year experience of liver transplantation in a low-vol-ume transplant center in Kazakhstan.
Methods
Clinical data of the 72 consecutive liver transplantations from deceased and living donors between 2010 and 2022 were collected from electronic records. All data were retrospectively analyzed.
Results
Among 72 liver transplantations, 12 from deceased and 58 from living donors have been performed in our center from 2010 to 2022. The mean age of the recipient was 43.7±10.9; 54.2% female; 45.8% male. Hepatitis B+hepatitis D infection was the most common cause of end-stage liver disease (21 cases, 32.8%). The overall patient survival rates for 1, 3, 5 years were 75%, 71.3%, 65.9% respectively for liver transplant recipient from a living donor and 58.3%, 32.4 %, and 32 % for the liver recipient from a deceased donor.
Conclusions
Our clinical outcomes showed a high rate of biliary and vascular complications that led to the low survival rate of the recipients. Starting the transplant program in Kazakhstan faced various challenges. In the early period, most transplantations were performed in collaboration with or under the guidance of transplant teams of Russia, Turkey, and South Korea. We believe that improving surgical techniques and protocols of pre- and posttransplantation management can diminish the complications after transplantation.