Living related liver transplantation in children.
BACKGROUND
Living related liver transplantation (LRLT) has become established for treating children with end-stage liver disease. The aim of this study was to review a single-centre experience of left lateral segment liver transplants from living donors in children.


METHODS
Fifty left lateral segment LRLT procedures have been performed since 1993. There were 17 girls and 33 boys, of median age 1.5 years (range 0.5 to 13 years), with a median weight of 10 (range 0.7-44) kg. Donors included 23 mothers, 26 fathers and one uncle, with a median age of 33 (range 19-46) years.


RESULTS
At a median follow-up of 86 months, there was no donor mortality and low morbidity. Patient and graft survival rates were 98, 96 and 96 per cent, and 98, 96 and 93 per cent at 1, 3 and 5 years respectively. Three children had a second transplant at a median of 9 years after the first. The incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis and biliary complications was 6, 4 and 14 per cent respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Living related liver transplantation has good long-term results in children.
Heaton
N
N
Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London School of Medicine at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK. nigel.heaton@kingsch.nhs.uk
Faraj
W
W
Melendez
H Vilca
HV
Jassem
W
W
Muiesan
P
P
Mieli-Vergani
G
G
Dhawan
A
A
Rela
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods