Split liver transplantation in adults

Split liver transplantation(SLT),while widely accepted in pediatrics,remains underutilized in adults. Advancements in surgical techniques and donor-recipient matching,however,have allowed expansion of SLT from utilization of the right trisegment graft to now include use of the hemiliver graft as well. Despite less favorable outcomes in the early experience,better outcomes have been reported by experienced centers and have further validated the feasibility of SLT. Importantly,more than two decades of experience have identified key requirements for successful SLT in adults. When these requirements are met,SLT can achieve outcomes equivalent to those achieved with other types of liver transplantation for adults. However,substantial challenges,such as surgical techniques,logistics,and ethics,persist as ongoing barriers to further expansion of this highly complex procedure. This review outlines the current state of SLT in adults,focusing on donor and recipient selection based on physiology,surgical techniques,surgical outcomes,and ethical issues.

Radiologic-histological correlation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated via pre-liver transplant locoregional therapies

BACKGROUND:Locoregional therapies(LRTs) are treatments to achieve local control of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Correlation between radiologic response to LRT and degree of induced tumor necrosis is not well understood.The aim of this study was to evaluate different levels of radiologic response after pre-liver transplant(LT) LRT and its correlation with percentage of tumor necrosis on explanted histopathology.METHODS:Institutional Review Board approved LT database was queried for treated HCC in patients undergoing LT.Radiologic response was evaluated to predict tumor necrosis in the explanted liver.Tumor response was evaluated 1 to 3 months after LRT with computed tomography or MRI via Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST),and European Association for the Study of the Liver(EASL) guidelines.LRT was repeated as needed until time of LT.Histological tumor necrosis was graded as complete(100%),partial(50%-99%),or poor(【50%).RESULTS:Between 2002 and 2011,128 patients(97 men and 31 women) received pre-LT LRT including transarterial therapy(93),radiofrequency ablation(20),or combination of both(15).The mean age of the patients was 58±9 years.Their mean follow-up was 35±27 months.The median waitlist time was 55 days.One hundred(78%) patients had HCC within the Milan criteria at the initial radiologic diagnosis.Nineteen(15%) of the patients had complete tumor necrosis on histopathology analysis.Fifty(39%) of the patients exhibited partial necrosis,52(41%) showed poor or no necrosis and 7(5%) showed progressive disease.The overall pre-LT radiologic staging was correlated with explant pathology in 73(57%) of the patients.Underestimated tumor stage was noted in 49(38%) patients,and overestimated tumor stage in 6(5%) patients.The post-LT 3-year overall survival and disease free survival were 82% and 80%,and the rates for complete and partial tumor necrosis were 100% vs 78%(P=0.02) and 100% vs 75%(P=0.03),respectively.CONCLUSIONS:In the current era,interpretation of radiologic response after LRT for HCC does not correlate accurately with histologic tumor necrosis.Total tumor necrosis is the goal of LRT;therefore,evolution in its performance is needed.Similarly,ways to predict therapy induced tumor necrosis via radiological investigation need to be improved.

Factors predicting futility of liver transplant in elderly recipients:A single-center experience

BACKGROUND As the population of the United States ages,there has been an increasing number of elderly patients with cirrhosis listed for transplant.Previous studies have shown variable results in terms of the relative survival benefit for elderly liver transplant(LT)recipients.There may be factors that are associated with a poor post-transplant outcome which may help determine which elderly patients should and should not be listed for LT.AIM To identify factors associated with futility of transplant in elderly patients.METHODS This was a retrospective study of all patients above the age of 45 who underwent liver transplantation at our tertiary care center between January 2010 and March 2020(n=1019).“Elderly”was defined as all patients aged 65 years and older.Futile outcome was defined as death within 90 d of transplant.Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine what variables,if any were associated with futile outcome in elderly patients.Secondary outcomes such as one year mortality and discharge to facility(such as skilled nursing facility or long-term acute care hospital)were analyzed in the entire sample,compared across three age groups(45-54,55-64,and 65+years).RESULTS There was a total of 260 elderly patients who received LT in the designated time period.A total of 20 patients met the definition of“futile”outcome.The mean Model of End-Stage Liver Disease scores in the futile and non-futile group were not significantly different(21.78 in the futile group vs 19.66 in the“non-futile”group).Of the variables tested,only congestive heart failure was found to have a statistically significant association with futile outcome in LT recipients over the age of 65(P=0.001).Of these patients,all had diastolic heart failure with normal ejection fraction and at least grade I diastolic dysfunction as measured on echocardiogram.Patients aged 65 years and older were more likely to have the outcomes of death within 1 year of LT[hazard ratio:1.937,confidence interval(CI):1.24-3.02,P=0.003]and discharge to facility(odds ratio:1.94,CI:1.4-2.8,P<0.001)compared to patients in younger age groups.CONCLUSION Diastolic heart failure in the elderly may be a predictor of futility post liver transplant in elderly patients.Elderly LT recipients may have worse outcomes as compared to younger patients.