Successful combined kidney-liver right lobe transplant from a living donor

Combined Organ Transplantation in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease

Transplantation of the liver in combination with other organs is an increasingly performed procedure. Over the years, continuous improvement in survival could be realized through careful patient selection and refined organ preservation techniques, in spite of the challenges posed by aging recipients and donors, as well as the increased use of steatotic liver grafts. Herein, we revisit the epidemiology, allocation policies in different transplant zones, indications, and outcomes with regard to simultaneous organ transplants involving the liver, that is combined heart-liver, liver-lung, liver-kidney, and multivisceral transplantation. We address challenges surrounding combined organ transplantation such as equity, utility, and logistics of dual organ implantation, but also advantages that come along with combined transplantation, thereby focusing on molecular mechanisms underlying immunoprotection provided by the liver to the other allografts. In addition, the current standing and knowledge of machine perfusion in combined organ transplantation, mostly based on center experience, will be reviewed. Notwithstanding all the technical advances, shortage of organs, and the lack of universal eligibility criteria for certain multi-organ combinations are hurdles that need to be tackled in the future.

Feasible living donor liver transplantation for patients on chronic hemodialysis: a multicenter study in East Asian countries

PURPOSES

End-stage liver and kidney disease is an indication for simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation. However, in countries where deceased donor transplantation is not well established, living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a realistic option for patients on hemodialysis (HD). We investigated the outcomes of LDLT for patients on HD.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multicenter survey of patients on chronic HD who underwent LDLT in East Asian countries. The characteristics of donors and recipients and the short and long-term outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Between 2001 and 2021, 45 patients on HD underwent LDLT and 11 of these patients also underwent kidney transplantation (KT). The overall survival rate at 5 years of the 34 patients who underwent only LDLT was 44.5%. Multivariate analysis identified a low graft recipient weight ratio (< 1%) (p = 0.048) and long HD duration (≥ 10 years) (p = 0.046) as independent predictors of poor overall survival. The major complication was posttransplant bleeding, which occurred in12 patients (35%).

CONCLUSION

It is important to establish the indications for LDLT, taking into consideration graft size and HD duration in candidate patients on HD.

Extreme living donation: A single center simultaneous and sequential living liver-kidney donor experience with long-term outcomes under literature review

Objective: Living liver and kidney donor surgeries are major surgical procedures applied to healthy people with mortality and morbidity risks not providing any direct therapeutic advantage to the donor. In this study, we aimed to share our simultaneous and sequential living liver-kidney donor experience under literature review in this worldwide rare practice.

Material and Methods: Between January 2007 and February 2018, a total of 1109 living donor nephrectomies and 867 living liver donor hepatectomies were performed with no mortality to living-related donors. Eight donors who were simultaneous or sequential living liver-kidney donors in this time period were retrospectively reviewed and presented with their minimum 2- year follow-up.

Results: Of the 8 donors, 3 of them were simultaneous and 5 of them were sequential liver-kidney donation. All of them were close relatives. Mean age was 39 (26-61) years and mean BMI was 25.7 (17.7-40). In 3 donors, right lobe, in 4 donors, left lateral sector, and in 1 donor, left lobe hepatectomy were performed. Median hospital stay was 9 (7-13) days. Two donors experienced early and late postoperative complications (Grade 3b and Grade 1). No mortality and no other long-term complication occurred.

Conclusion: Expansion of the donor pool by utilizing grafts from living donors is a globally-accepted proposition since it provides safety and successful outcomes. Simultaneous or sequential liver and kidney donation from the same donor seems to be a reasonable option for combined liver-kidney transplant recipients in special circumstances with acceptable outcomes.

Simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation: A single-center experience in Korea

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS

Simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation (SLKT) has been established as the treatment of choice for patients with concurrent end-stage liver and end-stage kidney diseases. The objective of this study was to analyze the nationwide incidence of SLKT in Korea and the outcomes of SLKT in a high-volume transplant center.

METHODS

Databases of the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) and Asan Medical Center from 2000 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence of SLKT.

RESULTS

During 20 years from 2000 to 2019, deceased donor SLKT was performed for 38 cases in the KONOS database. The proportion of deceased donor SLKT was 0.6% (20 of 3333) before adoption of MELD score, which was significantly increased to 1.2% (18 of 1524) after the adoption of MELD score (p=0.034). In our institution, there were 11 cases of SLKT (2 cases with deceased donors and 9 cases with living donors). SLKT accounted for 0.2% (11 of 6468) of total liver transplantation volume. During follow-up, five patients died due to hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence (n=2), infection (n=2), or unknown cause (n=1). The 1-year and 10-year overall patient survival rates were 90.9% and 81.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study revealed that the incidence of deceased donor SLKT was very low. An increase of such incidence is not anticipated unless the number of deceased donors is markedly increased. Currently, sequential living donor liver transplantation and kidney transplantation with deceased or living donors are mainstays of transplantation rather than SLKT in our institution.

Deceased vs living donor grafts for pediatric simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation: A single-center experience

Introduction

In conditions of limited experience of pediatric simultaneous liver‐kidney transplantation (SLKT) using grafts from living and deceased donors, there is a certain need to validate the approach.

Patients

The retrospective study of 18 pediatric patients who received SLKT between 2008 and 2019.

Results

Grafts were obtained from both living and deceased donors. The patients’ age ranged from 2 to 16 years (9 years ±4). The body weight of the children varied from 9.5 to 39 kg (22 kg ±9). The follow‐up period lasted from 1 to 109 months (median 38 months ±35). The various graft combinations were used in both groups. There was no mortality during the follow‐up. There was no significant difference in baseline parameters in recipients who received grafts from living and deceased donors except age (7.5 years ±2.2 vs 11.8 years ±4.1; P = .038). Rate of complications > grade II was higher among recipients of deceased donor SLKT (7.7% vs 60%; OR, 7.8; 95% CI, 1.04‐58.48; P = .044). All the patients are alive with both grafts functioning. All the living donors returned to the normal life.

Conclusion

SLKT is a safe and effective procedure for children with both simultaneous end‐stage liver disease and end‐stage renal disease. Both living donor partial liver and kidney transplantation and deceased donor liver‐kidney transplantation can be considered as safe and feasible options.

Simultaneous laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy and nephrectomy in the same living donor: The first case report

With the presence of organ shortage, living donors remain important sources of grafts, especially for pediatric recipients. Laparoscopic nephrectomy has become the gold standard for living donors. Additionally, laparoscopic partial liver procurement in living donors has proven its safety and feasibility in the latest studies. We have combined both approaches to perform a simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation in a pediatric patient from the same living donor. Our experience of laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy and laparoscopic nephrectomy in living donors was the basis for adapting to this procedure. A 29-year-old mother was an ABO-incompatible (ABOi) donor for the left lateral section (LLS) of the liver and left kidney for her 2-year-old son. The postoperative period was uneventful. Two sessions of plasmapheresis and rituximab induction were necessary to prepare for ABOi transplantation. The donor and recipient were discharged on postoperative days 5 and 28, respectively. Simultaneous laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy and nephrectomy in the same living donor is feasible for transplantation from the parent to the child with advanced laparoscopic expertise.

Landscape of Living Multiorgan Donation in the United States: A Registry-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The donation of multiple allografts from a single living donor is a rare practice, and the patient characteristics and outcomes associated with these procedures are not well described.

METHODS

Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified 101 living multiorgan donors and their 133 recipients.

RESULTS

The 49 sequential (donations during separate procedures) multiorgan donors provided grafts to 81 recipients: 21 kidney-then-liver, 15 liver-then-kidney, 5 lung-then-kidney, 3 liver-then-intestine, 3 kidney-then-pancreas, 1 lung-then-liver, and 1 pancreas-then-kidney. Of these donors, 38% donated 2 grafts to the same recipient and 15% donated 2 grafts as non-directed donors. Compared to recipients from first-time, single organ living donors, recipients from second-time living donors had similar graft and patient survival. The 52 simultaneous (multiple donations during one procedure) multiorgan donors provided 2 grafts to 1 recipient each: 48 kidney-pancreas and 4 liver-intestine. Donors had median of 13.4 years (interquartile range, 8.3-18.5 years) of follow-up. There was one reported death of a sequential donor (2.5 years after second donation). Few postdonation complications were reported over a median of 116 days (interquartile range, 0-295 days) of follow-up; however, routine living donor follow-up data were sparse. Recipients of kidneys from second-time living donors had similar graft (P = 0.2) and patient survival (P = 0.4) when compared with recipients from first-time living donors. Similarly, recipients of livers from second-time living donors had similar graft survival (P = 0.9) and patient survival (P = 0.7) when compared with recipients from first-time living donors.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful documentation of outcomes is needed to ensure ethical practices in selection, informed consent, and postdonation care of this unique donor community.

Solid-organ Transplants From Living Donors: Cumulative United States Experience on 140,156 Living Donor Transplants Over 28 Years

BACKGROUND

Transplantation of organs from living donors helps to decrease the organ shortage and shortens waiting times. Living donor (LD) transplantation is also generally associated with better outcomes. Unfortunately, there has been no comprehensive analysis and comparison of all types of solid-organ transplantation from living donors since the inception of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

METHODS

Using the UNOS/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database, all LD transplants from October 1, 1987, to December 31, 2015, were studied with univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 140,090 organs were transplanted from LDs, accounting for 21% of all transplants in the United States. Over 95% were kidney; 4% were liver; and <1% intestine, lung, and pancreas LDs. Only LD kidney transplant patient and graft survival rates were significantly higher compared deceased donor transplants over the period of analysis. The best long-term LD transplant results were achieved in pediatric liver recipients. Significantly more women than men donated organs and significantly more men than women received solid-organ transplants. A regional disparity was observed for LD kidney as well as for LD liver transplants. Despite improvements in outcomes and increased use of nonbiologic donors, the number of LD transplants in the United States has declined. This decline was greater in children than adults and was noted for all types of organ transplants.

CONCLUSION

Further efforts are needed to educate the public, health professionals, and transplant candidates on the advantages of living vs deceased donor organ transplantation. Compared with other countries, LD transplantation has yet to reach its full potential in the United States.

Feasible isolated liver transplantation for a cirrhotic patient on chronic hemodialysis

End-stage liver and kidney disease (ELKD) is an indication for deceased donor simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation. Although a few cases of living donor liver-kidney transplantation have been reported, the invasiveness remains to be discussed. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an alternative choice for ELKD, but has never been reported. Here, we report a case of successful LDLT for a patient with ELKD on hemodialysis. The patient was a 63-year-old male and had decompensated hepatitis C cirrhosis with seronegativity for hepatitis C virus. He had non-diabetic end-stage renal failure and had been on hemodialysis for 3 years. He was in good general condition except for hepatic and renal failure. The living donor was his 58-year-old healthy wife. A right lobe graft was transplanted to the recipient under continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) and extracorporeal veno-venous bypass. CHDF was continued until postoperative day 4, at which point CHDF was converted to hemodialysis. His posttransplant course was good and he was discharged on postoperative day 36. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of LDLT for a patient on chronic hemodialysis. Therefore, being on hemodialysis is not a contraindication for LDLT. LDLT is feasible for a patient with ELKD on hemodialysis.

Sequential liver-kidney transplantation in a boy with congenital hepatic fibrosis and nephronophthisis from a living donor

A five-yr-old boy developed chronic liver failure and ESKD because of CHF and juvenile NPHP. He underwent sequential liver and kidney transplantation with a compatible blood type from his father, at five yr, seven months and five yr, 11 months old, respectively. Because the patient was not in ESKD, we initially performed LDLT because of significant portal hypertension. Even after LDLT, his ascites was not ameliorated, and he needed continuous drainage of ascites and daily albumin and gamma globulin infusion. Thereafter, he progressed to ESKD and needed hemodialysis for one month before LDKT. CDC crossmatch for donor B cells in the warm test, FCXM for B cell IgG, and flow PRA for donor class II were positive before LDKT. After pretreatment of three courses of plasma exchange and intravenous gamma globulin, LDKT was performed. Two weeks after LDKT, AIHA concomitant with autoimmune thrombocytopenia, also called Evans syndrome, occurred because of passenger lymphocytes from the donor; however, the patient was successfully treated with intravenous methylprednisolone. Eighteen months have passed since LDKT, and liver and kidney function in both the recipient and donor are normal.

A single center experience of combined liver kidney transplantation

With advancements in the operative techniques, patient survival following liver transplantation (LTx) has increased substantially. This has led to the acceleration of pre-existing kidney disease because of immunosuppressive nephrotoxicity making additional kidney transplantation (KTx) inevitable. On the other hand, in a growing number of patients on the waiting list to receive liver, long waiting time has resulted in adverse effect of decompensated liver on the kidney function. During the last two decades, the transplant community has considered combined liver kidney transplantation (CLKTx) to overcome this problem. The aim of our study is to present an overview of our experience as well as a review of the literature in CLKTx and to discuss the controversy in this regard. All performed CLKTx (n = 22) at our institution as well as all available reported case series focusing on CLKTx are extracted. The references of the manuscripts were cross-checked to implement further articles into the review. The analyzed parameters include demographic data, indication for LTx and KTx, duration on the waiting list, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, immunosuppressive regimen, post-transplant complications, graft and patient survival, and cause of death. From 1988 to 2009, a total of 22 CLKTx were performed at our institution. The median age of the patients at the time of CLKTx was 44.8 (range: 4.5-58.3 yr). The indications for LTx were liver cirrhosis, hyperoxaluria type 1, polycystic liver disease, primary or secondary sclerosing cholangitis, malignant hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, cystinosis, and congenital biliary fibrosis. The KTx indications were end-stage renal disease of various causes, hyperoxaluria type 1, polycystic kidney disease, and cystinosis. The mean follow-up duration for CLKTx patients were 4.6 +/- 3.5 yr (range: 0.5-12 yr). Overall, the most important encountered complications were sepsis (n = 8), liver failure leading to retransplantation (n = 4), liver rejection (n = 3), and kidney rejection (n = 1). The overall patient survival rate was 80%. Review of the literature showed that from 1984 to 2008, 3536 CLKTx cases were reported. The main indications for CLKTx were oxalosis of both organs, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure, polycystic liver and kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis along with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The most common encountered complications following CLKTx were infection, bleeding, biliary complications, retransplantation of the liver, acute hepatic artery thrombosis, and retransplantation of the kidney. From the available data regarding the need for post-operative dialysis (n = 673), a total of 175 recipients (26%) required hemodialysis. During the follow-up period, 154 episodes of liver rejection (4.3%) and 113 episodes of kidney rejection (3.2%) occurred. The cumulative 1, 2, 3, and 5 yr survival of both organs were 78.2%, 74.4%, 62.4%, and 60.9%, respectively. Additionally, the cumulative 1, 2, 3, and 5 yr patient survival were 84.9%, 52.8%, 45.4%, and 42.6%, respectively. The total number of reported deaths was 181 of 2808 cases (6.4%), from them the cause of death in 99 (55%) cases was sepsis. It can be concluded that there is still no definitive evidence of better graft and patient survival in CLKTx recipients when compared with LTx alone because of the complexity of the exact definition of irreversible kidney function in LTx candidates. Additionally, CLKTx is better to be performed earlier than isolated LTx and KTx leading to the avoidance of deterioration of clinical status, high rate of graft loss, and mortality. Shorter graft ischemia time and more effective immunosuppressive regimens can reduce the incidence of graft malfunctioning in CLKTx patients. Providing a model to reliably determine the need for CLKTx seems necessary. Such a model can be shaped based upon new and precise markers of renal function, and modification of MELD system.

One Living Donor and Two Donations: Sequential Kidney and Liver Donation With 20-Years Interval

The shortage of cadaveric donor organs remains the critical factor limiting the use of organ transplantation. In this environment of organ shortage, living donor transplantation has emerged as a reasonable therapeutic alternative. Simultaneous kidney-liver transplantation from the same donor has been described. We report a case of right liver lobe transplant from a living donor who had donated his kidney to the same recipient 20 years prior.

Combined living donor liver/small bowel transplantation

We are reporting the first known case of sequential combined living donor liver/small bowel transplantation (LDL/SBT). A 2-year-old boy born with gastroschisis and intestinal malrotation lost his entire small bowel and colon shortly after birth. He underwent a living donor small bowel transplant at 1 year of age that was lost 4 months after implantation for posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). He recovered from PTLD but developed total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-induced liver failure. He received a combined left lateral liver and terminal ileum transplant that we chose to perform sequentially due to the presence of preformed antibodies against his mother's tissues. The mother had no complications and a cumulative hospital stay of 7 days. At 9 months postsurgery, the patient is on full enteral nutrition and has suffered neither technical complications nor rejection. The technique described here is reproducible and makes combined living donor LDL/SBT an alternative to combined cadaveric liver-small bowel transplant.

Identification of patients best suited for combined liver-kidney transplantation: part II

Liver-kidney transplantation (LKT) should be reserved for those recipients with primary disease affecting both organs. However, increasing transplant list waiting times have increased the development and duration of acute renal failure before liver transplantation. Furthermore, the need for posttransplant calcineurin inhibitors can render healing from acute renal failure difficult. Because of the increasing requests for and controversy over the topic of a kidney with a liver transplant (OLT) when complete failure of the kidney is not known, the following article will review the impact of renal failure on liver transplant outcome, treatment of peri-OLT renal failure, rejection rates after LKT, survival after LKT, and information on renal histology and progression of disease into the beginnings of an algorithm for making a decision about combined LKT.