An analysis of liver transplant experience from 37 transplant centers as reported to Medicare.

Analysis of 5180 liver transplant cases from 37 liver transplant centers in the United States (1982-1991) shows an overall one-year survival rate of 79.4 +/- 0.6% and a five-year survival rate of 69.2 +/- 0.9%. There was marked improvement in the one-year survival rate after liver transplantation from 36.0 +/- 9.6% in 1982 to 85.0 +/- 1.8% in 1991. One-year survival rates after liver transplantation for postnecrotic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, and Wilson's disease ranged from 78.4 +/- 1.0% to 84.2 +/- 1.5% and five-year survival rates from 68.6 +/- 3.8% to 79.2 +/- 5.3%. Survival rates after liver transplantation for hemochromatosis were poor--a one-year survival rate of 53.8 +/- 6.8% and a five year survival rate of 43.1 +/- 11%. One- and five-year survival rates for the 0-13 years age group were 74.6 +/- 2.8% and 66.7 +/- 3.4%; for the 14-37 years age group, 83.3 +/- 1.2% and 73.8 +/- 1.8%; for the 38-54 years age group, 79.6 +/- 0.8% and 69.7 +/- 1.3%; for the 55-63 years age group, 76.0 +/- 1.4% and 63.0 +/- 3.1%; and for the 64-77 years age group, 76.5 +/- 3.0% and 65.4 +/- 4.6%.