BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is considered to be the alterative choice in light of the great shortage of cadaveric donors. However, the characteristics of the patients who will benefit from LDLT have not been well identified. The aim of this study was to define the pre- and intra-operative factors that may influence patient outcome.
METHODS: The data from 102 LDLT patients who had operations between 2002 and 2009 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Data were analyzed using uni- and multi-variate analysis according to factors that are known to be associated with outcome in these patients.
RESULTS: Overall, the accurate survival rate of recipients at 1, 3, and 5 years was 84%, 76%, and 70%, respectively. The independent risk factors, preoperative renal dysfunction, intraoperative red blood cell transfusions of greater than 5 units, and female to male match (donor to recipient matching), were identified by Cox regression analysis. The pre-transplant model for end-stage liver disease score and a graft to recipient weight ratio of less than 0.8% were not predictive of outcome. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival of patients with one or no risk factors and two or more risk factors were 91%, 86%, and 83% and 67%, 56%, and 47%, respectively (P<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective study, preoperative renal dysfunction, intraoperative red blood cell transfusions of greater than 5 units, and female to male gender match were independent risk factors for LDLT recipient outcome. Two or more of these risk factors may contribute to poor outcome.