VI consensus document by the Spanish Liver Transplantation Society

Emergency Liver Retransplantation With Marginal Donors

BACKGROUND

The goal of the present study is to determine if using marginal donors negatively impacts the outcomes of emergency liver retransplantation.

METHODS

A retrospective case-control study was performed, including all emergency liver retransplantations done in our center between 1990 and 2021. Recipients from the control group received the second grafts from "ideal donors", and patients from the case group received them from marginal donors. Analyzed variables included demographics of recipients and donors, complications, and survival rates.

RESULTS

38 emergency retransplantations were performed. 23 recipients were included in the control group, and the remaining 15 were in the case group. The second donors from the case group were significantly older (mean age 58 vs 71 years old, P < 0.0001). On the contrary, there were no differences between groups regarding the mean age of recipients, comorbidities, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores, or causes of retransplantation (the most common was hepatic artery thrombosis). No differences were found in early perioperative death rates (control group 26.1% vs case group 20%, P =1) and, although the case group seemed to have slightly poorer outcomes in long-term survival (control group 70%, 61%, and 55% vs case group 73%, 59%, and 39%, respectively, at 1, 5, and 10 years), the differences were not statistically significant (log-rank = 0.808).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of marginal donors for emergency liver retransplantation was proved safe in our study, as there were no differences in complications or in short- or mid-term survival rates.

Health status of patients with liver transplantation by alcohol-related disease vs another etiology: A cohort study

AIM

To study the health status of a group of patients with liver transplantation by alcohol-related disease vs another etiology before and after the transplantation.

METHOD

Longitudinal cohort study of liver transplant patients from November 2019 to July 2022. Adult patients attended in the unit of transplantation of a hospital for a first liver transplant, both elective and urgent, were included. Patients who already had a transplanted organ and those who required liver re-transplantation in the first month after the first transplant were excluded. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, MELDNa, liver frailty index, emotional-behavioral effects of transplantation, level of anxiety and depression were collected. Pearson's chi-square, Student's t, Mann-Whitney U, and Wilcoxon sign tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The sample was n = 67 liver transplant patients with a mean age of 56.37 years, 67.2% being men and 39% due to alcohol-related liver disease. 9% of all included patients were urgent transplants. Alcohol consumption was associated with older age, a high rate of liver frailty, and a non-active work situation. Alcoholic etiology correlated with increased concern during the first six months after liver transplantation.

CONCLUSION

There are differences in the health status between liver transplant patients for alcohol-related liver disease vs other etiology. Nurses must consider the etiology of liver disease to guide care and interventions throughout the transplant process.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with renal dysfunction: Pathophysiology, prognosis, and treatment challenges

The population of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) overlaps to a high degree with those for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The degrees of renal dysfunction vary, from the various stages of CKD to dialysis-dependent ESRD, which often affects the prognosis and treatment choice of patients with HCC. In addition, renal dysfunction makes treatment more difficult and may negatively affect treatment outcomes. This study summarized the possible causes of the high comorbidity of HCC and renal dysfunction. The possible mechanisms of CKD causing HCC involve uremia itself, long-term dialysis status, immunosuppressive agents for postrenal transplant status, and miscellaneous factors such as hormone alterations and dysbiosis. The possible mechanisms of HCC affecting renal function include direct tumor invasion and hepatorenal syndrome. Finally, we categorized the risk factors that could lead to both HCC and CKD into four categories: Environmental toxins, viral hepatitis, metabolic syndrome, and vasoactive factors. Both CKD and ESRD have been reported to negatively affect HCC prognosis, but more research is warranted to confirm this. Furthermore, ESRD status itself ought not to prevent patients receiving aggressive treatments. This study then adopted the well-known Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guidelines as a framework to discuss the indicators for each stage of HCC treatment, treatment-related adverse renal effects, and concerns that are specific to patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction when undergoing aggressive treatments against CKD and ESRD. Such aggressive treatments include liver resection, simultaneous liver kidney transplantation, radiofrequency ablation, and transarterial chemoembolization. Finally, focusing on patients unable to receive active treatment, this study compiled information on the latest systemic pharmacological therapies, including targeted and immunotherapeutic drugs. Based on available clinical studies and Food and Drug Administration labels, this study details the drug indications, side effects, and dose adjustments for patients with renal dysfunction. It also provides a comprehensive review of information on HCC patients with renal dysfunction from disease onset to treatment.

Is Liver Retransplantation Justified in the Current Era?

INTRODUCTION

Liver retransplantation (LRT) is a controversial indication. Our aim was to evaluate the rate of LRT at our institution, and to analyze its indications and short- and long-term results.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of a prospectively collected database, including 1645 LT from 1984 to 2018. Results have been analyzed depending on type of LRT (early vs late), study period and indications.

RESULTS

We performed 150 LRT in 140 patients. The LRT rate was 9%. Of these, 45 LRT were early (30%), and the other 70% were late LRT. The main indications were: ischemic cholangitis (27%), arterial thrombosis (19%), primary non-function (15%), and HCV recurrence (15%). Mean surgery duration (395 vs. 270 min; P = .001), cold ischemia time (435 vs. 390 min; P = .005) and transfused units required (8 vs. 5 RBC; P = .034) were higher in cases of late LRT. Postoperative mortality (10 vs. 20%; P = .01) was better in cases of late LRT. One- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 71% and 58%, respectively, which were significantly better during the last decade (80% and 64%). Five-year actuarial survival for ischemic cholangitis is better than other indications, such as recurrence of HCV (78 vs. 51%; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver retransplantation is complex and associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, indications and long-term results have improved during recent years. Therefore, LRT is justified.

Results of Early Liver Retransplantation

BACKGROUND

Liver retransplantation can be classified as urgent (when performed in the first week after the transplantation) or elective, which may be considered as early (first month post-transplantation) or late (after the first month). The time in which retransplantation takes place is determined by the cause that makes it necessary. The goal of this study is to analyze the causes and results of early retransplantation in our center.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of liver retransplantations performed within the first month after the original transplantation in our center between 2007 and 2017 was carried out. The variables analyzed were demographic, causes of the first transplant and retransplantation, and the complications and mortality resulting from the latter.

RESULTS

A total of 698 liver transplants were performed, including 67 patients who required retransplantation (8.9%). Among these, 37 were late elective retransplantations and 30 were early retransplantations. Regarding the latter, the causes that led to the first transplant were hepatocellular carcinoma (46.7%) and noncholestatic cirrhosis (30%). On the other hand, the main precipitants of the retransplantation were hepatic artery thrombosis (60%) and primary graft failure (13.3%). The reoperation rate was 16.7%, and the perioperative mortality rate was 16.7%. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 83.3%, 76.7% and 59.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Despite the high perioperative morbidity of liver retransplantation, its results in terms of survival are similar to those of the global series of liver transplantation.