Ten years of a pediatric living donor liver transplantation program in Brazil.

BACKGROUND

Pediatric living-donor liver transplantation is considered a safe alternative for the treatment of children with end-stage liver disease. Experienced tertiary centers and specialized medical staff are necessary to ensure compatible long-term survival rates and quality-of-life for these children.

AIM

To report the results and the 10-year learning curve of a pediatric living-donor liver transplantation program.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pediatric recipients from 2013 to 2023. Post-transplant outcomes and patient survival rates were compared between two 5-year periods of the program.

RESULTS

A total of 25 and 48 patients underwent transplantation in the first (2013-2017) and second period (2018-2023), respectively. Portal vein and hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in 11 (15.1%) and seven (9.6%) patients, respectively. Biliary complications were observed in 39 of 73 patients (53.4%). A lower warm ischemia time was observed in the second period compared to the first (32.6 ± 8.6 minutes 38.4 ± 9.8 minutes, = 0.018, respectively). Patient survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 84% in the first period and 91.7% in the second period, with no significant difference ( = 0.32).

CONCLUSION

The reported indications and outcomes align with the current literature. Our findings provide crucial evidence regarding the feasibility of establishing a living donor program with consistent results over time.