Outcomes of living versus deceased donor liver transplantation: initial single center experience from Thailand

Abstract

Background: The availability of deceased donor in the northern region of Thailand is limited. In 2015, we initiated the adult to adult living donor liver transplantation program. To date, we are the only active adult to adult living donor liver transplantation pro gram in Thailand. We evaluated the short-term outcomes after liver transplantation compare between living and deceased donor liver transplantation. Methods: Retrospective study of adult liver transplantation in our center since 2014. The patients were divided in to a living do nor liver transplantation (LDLT) and deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). Baseline characteristic, perioperative data and 1-year survival were compared between two groups. Results: There were 37 cases underwent LT in our hospital since October 2014 (20 DDLT cases and 17 LDLT cases). Baseline characteristics between two groups were not significantly difference. The operative time was longer in LDLT group (P<0.001). However, cold and warm ischemic time were shorter in LDLT group (P<0.001 and P=0.026, respectively). The median ventilator, intensive care unit and hospital stay were similar. The incidence of biliary complication was higher in LDLT group (47% vs 10%, P<0.001). The vascular related complications were not significant difference. Nighty-day and 1-year survival were not significant difference between LDLT and DDLT group (84.6% vs. 84.2% and 76.9% vs. 84.2% respectively, P=0.706). Conclusions: In the region where deceased donor shortage, LDLT showed similar results compare to DDLT in terms of peri-oper ative outcomes and patient survival even done by the beginner LDLT program. However, the incidence of biliary related complica tion was significant higher in LDLT group.