Perioperative and Long-Term Outcomes After Combined Liver and Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience.

Abstract

Combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) has evolved as a therapeutic option for patients with concurrent end-stage liver and renal diseases. This study evaluates the perioperative and long-term outcomes of CLKT at a single center in Slovenia, highlighting the challenges and successes of simultaneous organ transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed all patients undergoing simultaneous CLKT at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana from April 2014 to June 2023. Data on demographics, cause of liver and kidney disease, operative details, postoperative complications, patient and graft survival, and follow-up were collected and analyzed. Five patients aged 27 to 60 years underwent CLKT within the study period. All transplants involved deceased donors with whole-liver grafts. Indications for CLKT were polycystic liver disease (n = 3), Caroli's disease (n = 1), and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 1). The mean follow-up duration was 45.2 months, with a 100% survival rate. The incidence of surgical and postoperative complications was low. This pioneering series of simultaneous CLKTs in Slovenia demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of the procedure in smaller transplant centers. Despite challenges, including T cell-mediated kidney rejection and surgical complications, the study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive postoperative care and management in optimizing outcomes for CLKT recipients.