title: Recipient body size does not matter in pediatric liver transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is controversial whether small size recipient is associated with adverse outcome in liver transplantation. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of pediatric liver transplantation according to body weight of recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver transplant recipients (age <18years, from 1993 to 2011) were studied retrospectively. They were categorized according to the body size at the time of transplantation (A: <6kg; B: between 6kg to 10kg; C: >10kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 113 patients (83 LDLTs and 30 DDLTs) were studied. Thirteen (11.5%) belonged to group A, 56 (49.6%) belonged to group B, and 44 (38.9%) belonged to group C. The best graft and patient survivals were found in group A (Figs. 1 and 2), and none of the patients required re-laparotomy for general surgical complications, while 32 patients (32%) in groups B and C did. Regarding transplant-related complications, although group A patients had the highest incidence of biliary tract complications (38.5%, n=5), the incidence of vascular complications (hepatic artery: 7%, portal vein: 0%, hepatic vein: 0%) in this group was the lowest among the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outcomes of small-sized recipients are not inferior. Less technical-related vascular complications, which may lead to early graft loss, were observed. This could be patient-related (less advanced cirrhosis) or surgeon-related (additional attention paid).
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: phychung@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Patrick Ho Yu
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Division of Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: chanlsc@hku.hk.
authors.forename: See Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: vmok@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Vivian Way Kay
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: paultam@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Paul Kwong Hang
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Division of Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: chungmlo@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Chung Mau
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Deceased donor; Liver transplantation; Living donor; Pediatric