title: Graft size alone should not affect donors selection and be used to predict the prognosis of recipients after living donor liver transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Graft size is recognized as one of the most important factors that affect prognosis of the liver recipients. This study determines whether the graft to recipient weight ratio (GRWR) alone can be used to select the liver donor and as an outcome predictor before living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).
  
  
  METHODS
  LDLT patients (202) were divided into three groups according to the GRWR: Group S (n=46, GRWR <0.8); Group M (n=83, GRWR 0.8-1.0); Group L (n=73, GRWR >1.0). Recovery of graft function, incidence of small-for-size syndrome and rate of complications were compared among the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics in both the donors and recipients, nor in the intensive care unit stay hours, re-operation rate, hospital stay after operation, Clavien System score and recovery of graft function after transplantation, among the three groups. The small-for-size syndrome rates were 13%, 7.23% and 11% in Groups S, M and B, and no significant difference was noted among the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GRWR may not be the only factor affecting recipient prognosis after LDLT. Local graft dysfunction such as impaired venous outflow, severity of disease and portal hyperperfusion in the recipient, and fatty liver in donor may influence the graft and thus the prognosis of transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver and Vascular Surgery, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Lu-Nan
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tian-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Wen-Tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-Qing
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jia-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D046148:Donor Selection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult