Reuse of liver grafts following the brain death of the initial recipient

• Published in: World journal of hepatology 2014-06, Vol.6 (6), p.443-447
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Hideaki, McAlister, Vivian C, Levstik, Mark A, Ghent, Cameron N, Marotta, Paul J, Quan, Douglas, Wall, William J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Systematic Reviews
• ISSN: 1948-5182; 1948-5182
• DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i6.443

To determine if there is a reasonable prospect of success of a re-use liver transplantation. We systematically searched for reports of liver graft re-use using electronic searches of PubMed and Web of Knowledge. We performed hand searches of references lists of articles reporting re-use of grafts. A systematic review of the literature reveals 28 liver transplantations using previously transplanted grafts. First and second recipients ranged in age from 4 to 72 years and 29 to 62 years respectively. Liver disease in the first recipient was varied including 5 (18%) patients with fulminant liver failure who died subsequently of cerebral edema. The second transplantation was performed after a median interval of 5 d (one day-13 years). Viral hepatitis was present in 3 (11%) of the initial recipients and in 8 (29%) of final recipients. Hepatocellular carcinoma was present in 6 (21%) of the final recipients. Early survival after the final transplantation was 93%, whereas long-term survival was 78% with a mean follow-up of 23.3 (3-120) mo. Outcomes of transplantation using previously transplanted grafts in this select population are similar to those seen with conventional grafts.