Pediatric liver transplantation for acute liver failure at a single center: A 10-yr experience

Abstract

Children transplanted for acute liver failure (ALF) urgently require an optimal graft. Lower post-transplant survival compared to children transplanted for chronic liver disease. Over 10 years, 33 consecutive children transplanted for ALF were followed. Demographics, encephalopathy, intubation, dialysis, laboratory values, graft type (ABO incompatible grafts (ABOI), Large for size grafts(XL)(GRWR>5%),deceased donor segmental liver transplantation(DDSLT), living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and whole liver transplant (WLT) were evaluated. Complications and survival were determined. ALF accounted for 33/201 (16.4%) of transplants during this period. 12/33 received ABOI, 5 XL grafts, 18 DDSLT, and 3 LDLT. Waiting time pre-transplant was 2.1 days. 1 and 3 year patient survival ALF group was 93% and 93% and graft survivals were 93 and 78.6%. Median follow-up was 1452 days. ABOI one and three year patient and graft survival in the ALF was 92 and 75%. No difference in graft or patient survival was noted in the ALF and chronic liver disease group nor the ABOI and the ABO compatible group. A combination of ABO incompatible donor livers, large for size grafts, DDSLT, LDLT and WLT led to a short wait time and subsequent graft and patient survival not significantly different than that for non-acute liver disease.