This is a review of a unit's experience with the use of pediatric (up to 15 yr of age), cadaver donor livers for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx). The records of 86 patients who underwent 90 OLTx with pediatric donor allografts from January 1986 to September 2002 were reviewed. A total of 69 of 90 (77%) allografts from pediatric donors were used for pediatric (P) recipients, and 21 of 90 (23%) for adult (A) recipients. Donor demographics were: mean donor age 8.5 (0-15) yr; donor sex 53 males/37 females; cause of death head injury 55/90 (61%), cerebral ischaemia 14 of 90 (15%), cerebrovascular 13 of 90 (15%), other eight of 90 (9%). Whole OLTx were performed in 44 of 69 (64%) P group and 20 of 21 (95%) A group. Reduced-size OLTx (13 left lateral lobe, 10 left lobe, one right lobe, one split left lateral lobe) were performed in 25 of 69 (36%) P group vs. in one of 21 (5%) A group, (right lobe split) (p < 0.005). The median follow up was 8.8 yr. The graft loss in the P recipients was 19 of 69 (27.5%) vs. eight of 21 (38.1%) in A recipients. Graft loss for reduced size P OLTx was nine of 25 (36%) vs. 10/44 (22.7%) for whole allograft P OLTx (p = NS). Underlying cause of P graft loss were: chronic rejection six (32%); patient mortality six (32%); vascular four (21%); other three (15%). Underlying cause of A graft loss were: patient mortality four (50%), acute rejection two (25%) and vascular two (25%). OLTx-utilizing pediatric cadaver donor allografts provides acceptable outcomes, including use of reduced-size grafts in pediatric recipients. Vascular complications and chronic rejection tend to be more common in pediatric recipients, whilst patient mortality and graft loss from acute rejection are more common in adult recipients.
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