Ann Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg.  2024 Feb;28(1):34-41. 10.14701/ahbps.23-072.

Outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Experiences from a Vietnamese center

• Ninh KV
• Do DH
• Nguyen TD
• Tran PH
• Hoang T
• Le DT
• Nguyen NQ

• KMID: 2553363
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14701/ahbps.23-072

Abstract

Backgrounds/Aims
Liver transplantation (LT) provides a favorable outcome for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was launched in Vietnam in 2004. In this study, we evaluated the short-term and long-term outcomes of LT and its risk factors.
Methods
This retrospective study analyzed HCC patients who underwent LT at Viet Duc University hospital, Vietnam, from 01/2012–03/2022. The following data were gathered: demographics, virus infection, tumor characteristics, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, Child-Pugh and MELD scores, selection criteria, type of LT, complications, 30-day mortality, and disease-free and overall survival (DFS and OS).
Results
Fifty four patients were included, the mean age was 55.39 ± 8.46 years. Nearly 90% had hepatitis B virus-related HCC. The median (interquartile range) AFP level was 16.2 (88.7) ng/mL. The average MELD score was 10.57 ± 5.95; the rate of Child-Pugh A and B were 70.4% and 18.5%, respectively. Nearly 40% of the patients were within Milan criteria, brain-dead donor was 83.3%. Hepatic and portal vein thrombosis occurred in 0% and 1.9%, respectively; hepatic artery thrombosis 1.9%, biliary leakage 5.6%, and postoperative hemorrhage 3.7%. Ninety-day mortality was 5.6%. Five-year DFS and OS were 79.3% and 81.4%, respectively. MELD score and ChildPugh score were predictive factors for DFS and OS (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, Child-Pugh score was the only significant factor (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
In Vietnam, LT is an effective therapy for HCC with an acceptable complication rate, mortality rate, and good survival outcomes, and should be further encouraged.

Keyword

Liver transplantation; Survival; Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Vietnam

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). (B) OS and the associated factors. (C) DFS and the associated factors.

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