Graft size alone should not affect donors selection and be used to predict the prognosis of recipients after living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Graft size is recognized as one of the most important factors that affect prognosis of the liver recipients. This study determines whether the graft to recipient weight ratio (GRWR) alone can be used to select the liver donor and as an outcome predictor before living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

METHODOLOGY: LDLT patients (202) were divided into three groups according to the GRWR: Group S (n=46, GRWR <0.8); Group M (n=83, GRWR 0.8-1.0); Group L (n=73, GRWR >1.0). Recovery of graft function, incidence of small-for-size syndrome and rate of complications were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics in both the donors and recipients, nor in the intensive care unit stay hours, re-operation rate, hospital stay after operation, Clavien System score and recovery of graft function after transplantation, among the three groups. The small-for-size syndrome rates were 13%, 7.23% and 11% in Groups S, M and B, and no significant difference was noted among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

GRWR may not be the only factor affecting recipient prognosis after LDLT. Local graft dysfunction such as impaired venous outflow, severity of disease and portal hyperperfusion in the recipient, and fatty liver in donor may influence the graft and thus the prognosis of transplantation.