Pediatric liver transplantation in Hong Kong-a domain with scarce deceased donors.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to assess the outcome of live-donor liver transplantation for pediatric patients in a region with limited access to deceased donors.


METHODS
From September 1993 to September 2008, 78 pediatric patients aged between 73 days and 17 years (mean, 40 months) received 83 liver transplants. Sixty-two were living-related liver transplantations (LRLTs), and 21 were deceased-donor liver transplantations (DDLTs). The mean follow-up period was 6.5 years. The prospectively collected data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates of patients and grafts were 91%, 90%, 88% and 87%, 86%, 83%, respectively. The survival rates of LRLT patients and DDLT patients were 89%, 89%, 87%, and 90%, 86%, 86%, respectively (P = .58). The survival rates of patients aged 12 months or younger and patients older than 12 months were 95%, 92%, 90% and 90%, 90%, 87%, respectively (P = .65). One live donor developed temporary peroneal palsy, and another developed lung collapse (3%, 2/62). All live donors resumed their normal activities with no difficulty.


CONCLUSIONS
With meticulous surgical techniques and postoperative care, it is justifiable to accept donated livers from voluntary live donors for transplantation to save pediatric patients in a place with scarce deceased donors.
Chan
Kwong Leung
KL
Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Fan
Sheung Tat
ST
Lo
Chung Mau
CM
Wei
William I
WI
Ng
Raymond Wai Man
RW
Chung
Ho Yu
HY
Ng
Kelvin Kwok Chai
KK
Chan
See Ching
SC
Chan
Kwok Wah
KW
Tso
Wai Kuen
WK
Tsoi
Nai Shun
NS
Tam
Paul Kwong Hang
PK
Wong
John
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002102:Cadaver; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019520:Living Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome