title: Graft weight/recipient weight ratio: how well does it predict outcome after partial liver transplants?
abstract: Partial graft liver recipients with graft weight/recipient weight (GW/RW) ratios < 0.8% are thought to have a higher incidence of postoperative complications, including small-for-size syndrome (SFSS). We analyzed a cohort of such recipients and compared those with GW/RW < 0.8% to those with GW/RW >or= 0.8%. Between 1999 and 2008, 107 adult patients underwent partial graft liver transplants: 76 from live donors [living donor liver transplantation (LDLT)] and 31 from deceased donors [split liver transplantation (SLT)]. Of these, 22 had GW/RW < 0.8% (12 with LDLT and 10 with SLT), and 85 had GW/RW >or= 0.8% (64 with LDLT and 21 with SLT). The baseline demographics and median length of follow-up were similar. SFSS developed in 3 recipients with GW/RW < 0.8% (13.6%) and in 8 recipients with GW/RW >or= 0.8% (9.4%; P = not significant). Other early complications were similar between the 2 groups. Inflow modification with splenic artery occlusion was performed in 13 recipients: 7 with GW/RW < 0.8% and 6 with GW/RW >or= 0.8%. Graft survival at 1 year post-transplant did not differ (91% versus 92%; P = not significant). In conclusion, GW/RW did not appear to be the only determinant of outcome after partial liver transplantation. Using techniques such as inflow modification may help to prevent some of the problems seen with smaller grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Tun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Abhinav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Humar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D019520:Living Donors; D009929:Organ Size; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult