Ann Liver Transplant.  2023 Nov;3(2):100-103. 10.52604/alt.23.0018.

Safety of living donors in liver transplantation in a low volume center

• Chang SH

• KMID: 2560930
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52604/alt.23.0018

Abstract

Background
Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an unavoidable procedure due to shortage of deceased donors. Since the first successful LDLT, many reports have shown excellent outcomes, but the safety of the donors after donation is still one of the main issues. And many studies have concluded that complex procedures may have better outcomes when their surgery is performed in high-volume rather than low-volume centers. Therefore, we are going to evaluate the overall safety of living donors in our center which is a low-volume center.
Methods
Among the 54 liver transplantations, which is total number of liver transplants in our institution from June 2006, 29 living donors of adult LDLT, which were performed from June 2006 to December 2015, were analyzed. The first 11 LDLT were performed with the help of an outside experienced liver transplantation team and the other 18 LDLT were performed in our center independently.
Results
There was no operative mortality and no re-operation. The mean age of donors was 27.8 years (16–52 years). Mean remnant volume was 39.0% (32.6%–46.5%). The mean operation time was 5 hours and 38.3 minutes (4 hours 10 minutes to 7 hours 45 minutes). The mean amount of estimated blood loss was 541.4 mL (200– 1,200 mL). The mean hospital stay was 12.9 days (9–27 days). There was one major complication which was biliary stricture and three minor complications, which were mild depression with poor diet, wound infection, and postoperative blood transfusion.
Conclusion
Sincere assistance of an experienced liver transplantation team and thorough preparation of a new transplantation team could guarantee a favorable safety of donors even in a low-volume transplant center.

Keyword

Safety of patients; Low-volume; Living donors; Liver transplantation