Waitlist mortality of young patients with biliary atresia: Impact of allocation policy and living donor liver transplantation

Combining living and deceased donation for pediatric first isolated liver transplantation: A win-win even in countries with high deceased donor donation rates

BACKGROUND

Split and living donor liver transplantations are both key surgical strategies for development of pediatric liver transplant programs. Often, however, teams tend to prioritize only one preferentially.

METHODS

In the context of a very active national split liver graft allocation program (Italy), retrospective study of 226 consecutive pediatric first isolated liver transplants performed by a single team using organs from both deceased and living donors. Clinical characterisitics and outcome were compared.

RESULTS

In the context of a steadily slowly decreasing split graft offer, living donation activity steadily increased. Deceased and living donation accounted for 52.6% and 47.4% of transplantations, respectively. Both strategies were equally used for transplanting patients up to 30 kg of weight, while deceased donors were predominantly used for older recipients. Technical variants represented 86% of all transplants, with 183 conisting of left lateral segment grafts (76 split liver grafts and 107 left grafts from living donors). Outcome of both surgical strategies was similar, with excellent outcomes at early, mid-, and long-term.

CONCLUSIONS

Splitting livers of deceased donors and using living donation were complementary and non-competitive strategies for developping pediatric liver transplant activity. Implementing both activities in parallell allowed to maintain stable the number of annual transplant in Italy and allowed to reach superior outcomes. This analysis provides evidence that living donation plays a role in Italy despite an existing very active "mandatory-split" national policy.

Current Status of Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Impact, Advantages, and Challenges

PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW

This review provides an overview of the current status of Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT). It discusses the impact of LDLT on waitlist and post-transplantation outcomes, highlighting the technical challenges and unique advantages of LDLT.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent findings show that LDLT offers several theoretical advantages over deceased donor liver transplant, including shorter wait times, better graft quality, and improved post-transplant outcomes. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are emerging as the leading indications for adult LDLT in the US. LDLT demonstrates comparable or better overall survival rates and organ-specific outcomes compared to deceased donor transplants. However, challenges exist, including donor and recipient risks such as biliary complications and small-for-size syndrome. Ongoing research focuses on refining surgical techniques, exploring minimally invasive approaches, utilizing predetermined donors to modulate the recipient's immune system, and ensuring ethical practices. LDLT is a valuable solution for patients with end-stage liver failure or disorders requiring transplantation. It offers advantages such as shorter wait times as well as improved waitlist and post-transplant outcomes. Continued research and advancements in LDLT will benefit patients in need of liver transplantation.