Ann Liver Transplant.
2024 Nov;4(2):95-101. 10.52604/alt.24.0013.
Varied strategies for alcohol-related liver transplants in South Korea
- Choi HH
1,2 - Lee KW2
- Kim BW3
- Kim DS4
- Choi GS5
- Lee HW6
- Choi HJ7
- Han J8
- Ryu JH9
- Kim KW10
- Ju MK11
- Park MS12
- Kim MS13
- Kim SH14
- Kim SH15
- Hwang S16
- Jung SW17
- Kim TS18
- Shin WY19
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Surgery, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University, Uijeongbu, Korea
- 2Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 3Department of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
- 4Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 5Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 6Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
- 7Department of Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- 8Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Pancreas Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea
- 9Department of Surgery, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea
- 10Department of Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea
- 11Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 12Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
- 13Department of Surgery, The Research Institute for Transplantation, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 14Department of Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
- 15Organ Transplantation Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
- 16Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, Asan-Minnesota Institute for Innovating Transplan- tation, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 17Department of Surgery, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
- 18Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
- 19Department of Surgery, Inha University Hospital, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
- KMID: 2561854
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.52604/alt.24.0013
Abstract
- Background
s: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is currently a major indication for liver transplantation (LT) in South Korea. Alcoholic recidivism is a primary concern after LT for ALD. However, it is unclear how patients who have received LT for ALD are managed regarding medical and psychological issues. Furthermore, management approaches vary across centers. This study aims to investigate how these management approaches differ among centers.
Methods
We conducted a survey of 19 liver transplant centers in South Korea to gather detailed information on the management protocols and related issues of ALD in LT patients.
Results
All 19 centers that responded to the survey had been performing LT for patients with ALD for more than 5 years. Nine out of the 19 centers (47%) stated that a minimum abstinence period of 1–6 months from alcohol was required before evaluating LT and enrolling on the transplant waiting list. Only 2 (10%) and 5 (26%) centers had protocols for assessing alcohol consumption while awaiting LT or for treating alcohol consumption after transplantation, respectively. Monitoring abstinence from drinking before and after LT mostly relied on direct interviews, and alcohol biomarkers were not used.
Conclusion
Our findings emphasize the importance of consistent patient management guidelines for ALD-LTs in South Korea.
