Liver retransplantation in adults: indications and outcomes. Analysis of a 23-year experience in a single center in Argentina

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background Liver retransplantation (re-LT) represents the only treatment for patients with irreversible graft failure. The aim of the current study was to describe the outcomes of both, patient and graft, after re-LT, at a high-volume referral center.

Methods Our population consisted of patients, with liver disease, who underwent re-LT in our institution between January 1996 and December 2019. 

Results 49 patients met the inclusion criteria. The patient's overall survival (OS) for the first year was 85% (Confidence Intervals (CI) 71-92) and 70% at five years (CI 53-82). In our population, three (6.12%) patients presented loss of graft and were included again in the transplant list; of these, one agreed to a new transplant while the remaining two died. This gave us graft survival results similar to those obtained for the re-LT patient; 85% at one year (CI 71-92) and 70% at 5 years (CI 53-82).

Conclusion Our study shows that re-LT is a valid and safe treatment for both early graft dysfunction and for transplanted patients who again present end-stage liver disease, showing a satisfactory long-term evolution, with parameters comparable to primary transplantation.