Donor age in living donor liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
We sought to elucidate the influence of donor age in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using either left lobe (LL) or right lobe (RL) grafts.


METHODS
Recipients (n = 232) were categorized as: group O/LL (LL, donor age >50, n = 20); group Y/LL (LL, donor age < or =50, n = 140); Group O/RL (RL, donor age >50, n = 12); and group Y/RL (RL, donor age < or =50, n = 61). We compared post-LDLT graft functions.


RESULTS
Among LL LDLT, the incidence of small-for-size syndrome was significantly greater for group O/LL compared with group Y/LL (60.0% vs 16.3%, P < .01). However, the cumulative 5-year graft survivals were 73.8% in group O and 76.7% in group Y without substantial difference. In RL LDLT, the post-LDLT morbidity and mortality were similar for group O/RL and group Y/RL.


CONCLUSIONS
Partial liver grafts, even though LL grafts, from older donors can be used safely with caution in LDLT.
Ikegami
T
T
Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. tikesurg@yahoo.ac.jp
Taketomi
A
A
Ohta
R
R
Soejima
Y
Y
Yoshizumi
T
T
Shimada
M
M
Maehara
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019520:Living Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods