Adult liver transplant candidate attitudes toward graft sharing are not obstacles to split liver transplantation.
Split liver transplantation (SLT) benefits society by increasing the total number of transplants that can be performed, but it is yet unknown if a decreased post-transplant survival (in comparison to whole liver transplantation) would make participation in SLT less appealing to adult liver transplant candidates. A 20-item questionnaire was administered to 50 adult candidates to assess attitudes toward SLT and organ sharing. The overall attitudes of 60% of participants were classified as utilitarian (maximizing benefit to greatest number of candidates), while 26% were classified as self-preserving (maximizing individual benefit) and 14% were undecided. Ninety percent of participants would be willing to share even if expected survival was less than that of whole liver transplantation, and 69% felt that pediatric candidates should have priority over adult candidates. In conclusion, attitudes toward graft sharing and the possibility of compromised survival benefit are not barriers to SLT for most adult liver transplant candidates.
Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Neal R
NR
Barshes
Timothy C
TC
Lee
Ian W
IW
Udell
Christine A
CA
O'Mahoney
Beth A
BA
Carter
Saul J
SJ
Karpen
John A
JA
Goss
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome