[Feasibility of small size graft following living donor liver transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the complication rate and survival rate of the patients whose graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) less than 0.8% following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).


METHODS
There were 92 consecutive LDLT patients from January 2001 to December 2007 in West China Hospital, Sichuan University. There were 85 males and 7 females aged from 18 to 65 years old (averaged, 42 years old) and among which 89 patients were involved in the study. There were 15 patients whose GRWR less than 0.8% (group 1), while other 74 recipients were in group 2. Comparing the two groups' complication rates and survival rates and finding out the potential influencing factor of small-size-graft recipients' survival rate.


RESULTS
The survival rates of group 1 and group 2 were 73.3% (11/15) and 71.6% (53/74), respectively. The grade II-V complication rates of group 1 and group 2 were 46.7% (7/15) and 48.6% (36/74), respectively. There were no difference in survival rates (chi(2) = 0.058, P = 0.811) and complication rates (chi(2) = 0.000, P = 1.000) between the two groups. Ascites volume of group 1 and group 2 were (1532 +/- 322) ml and (1466 +/- 110) ml, respectively (t = 0.234, P = 0.815). The condition of the graft's middle hepatic vein had significant influence on small-size-liver recipients' survival rates (chi(2) = 6.821, P = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
GRWR < 0.8% is not the limitation of the living donor liver transplantation but the outflow tract of the graft must be unobstructed.
Center of Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Xiang
X
Lan
Bo
B
Li
Xiao-fei
XF
Wang
Ci-jun
CJ
Peng
Yong-gang
YG
Wei
Lü-nan
LN
Yan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult