Single center experience of liver re-transplantation: indications-timing and complications

Abstract

Objective: Function loss, for whatever reason, of the graft used for liver transplantation requires re -transplantation. This study is an evaluation of all re -transplantations performed at our center. Material and Method: All liver re -transplantation patients whose surgeries had been performed at our clinic, whether at an early or late stage, were included in the study. Demographic information, details related to the surgery, and complications were evaluated retrospectively. Result: From 2018 to 2023, 236 liver transplantations were performed on 228 recipients in our institution. Of these patients, a total of 18 underwent re -transplantation, 10 of whom were from external centers and 8 of whom had had their first liver transplantation performed at our center. Of these patients, 12 were male and 6 were female, with a mean age of 6.7 years (+/- 4.8) for pediatric patients and 49 years (+/- 14.32) for adult patients. The mean weight for pediatric patients was 19.76 kg (+/- 8.86), and for adult patients it was 70.48 kg (+/- 11.83). The mean body mass index for pediatric patients was 17.41 kg/m2 (+/- 2.84), and for adult patients it was 22.33 kg/m2 (+/- 2.65). Six of these patients underwent early re -transplantation (7.6 +/- 5.4 days) and 12 underwent late re -transplantation (7.6 +/- 5.3 years). In terms of re -transplantation etiology, primary non -function was prominent for the early period, while secondary biliary cirrhosis, disease recurrence, and chronic rejection were detected for the late period. Seven recipients (39%) died during the perioperative period, and 1 -year survival was calculated as 61% in this patient group. Conclusion: Re -transplantation has high mortality and morbidity rates. Although early re -transplantation seems to overcome high mortality rates, especially in primary non-function cases, organ shortage and the need for living donors are significant problems.