Cadaveric full-size liver transplantation and the graft alternatives in adults: a comparative study from a single centre.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to compare the results of living donor (LDLT), cadaveric split (SLT) and domino (DO) liver transplantation which are currently available alternatives to the conventional cadaveric full-size liver transplantation (CAD).


METHODS
Immunologic, vascular and biliary complications (BC) were evaluated in 38 LDLT, 20 SLT, 17 DO and 38 CAD recipients.


RESULTS
The incidence of acute rejection (AR) was similar between groups, and between blood-related and blood-unrelated patients. AR was more severe in the SLT group according to the Banff scores (P=0.03, P<0.001, P<0.001). The evolution of AR was similar between the groups, in terms of development of chronic rejection. No venous complications occurred in the overall population. The rate of arterial thrombosis (10.5, 10, 0 and 3%, respectively) was statistically similar between groups. The rate of BC (26, 40, 12, and 8%, respectively) was higher in the partial grafts than in the whole grafts (P=0.006), but was not significantly different within each group. There was an association between the severity of preservation injury and occurrence of AR (P=0.01) and arterial thrombosis (P=0.016), but not BC. One- and 2-year graft and patient survival rates were similar between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
None of the graft types seemed to confer immunological advantage. BC remained problematic in the partial grafts, independently from ischemia time.
Sebagh
Mylène
M
Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 14 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94 804 Villejuif Cedex, France. mylene.sebagh@pbr.ap-hop-paris.fr
Yilmaz
Funda
F
Karam
Vincent
V
Falissard
Bruno
B
Ichaï
Philippe
P
Roche
Bruno
B
Castaing
Denis
D
Guettier
Catherine
C
Samuel
Didier
D
Azoulay
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler