A consecutive series of 100 controlled DCD liver transplantation

Introduction: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) have been proposed to partially overcome the organ donor shortage. DCD-LT remains controversial, with reported increased risk of graft loss and retransplantation. The authors retrospectively reviewed a single centre experience with controlled DCD-LT in a 12-year period.
Patients and Methods: 100 DCD-LT were consecutively performed between 2003 and 2014. All donation and procurement procedures were performed as controlled DCD in operative rooms. Data are presented as median (ranges). Median donor age was 57 years (16–83). Median DRI was 2.16 (1.4–3.4). Most grafts were flushed with HTK solution. Allocation was centre-based. Median recipient MELD score at LT was 15 (7–40). Mean follow-up was 35 months. No patient was lost to follow-up.
Results: Median total DCD warm ischemia was 19 min (10–39). Median cold ischemia was 235 min (113–576). Median peak AST was 1132 U/l (282– 21 928). Median peak bilirubin was 28 mg/dL. Patient survivals were 90.7%, 75.5% and 70.7% at 1.3 and 5 years, respectively. Graft survivals were 88.7%, 72.1% and 67.1% at 1.3 and 5 years, respectively. Biliary complications included mainly anastomotic strictures and extrahepatic main bile duct ischemic obstruction, that were managed either by endoscopy or hepatico- jejunostomy. No PNF or graft loss due to ischemic cholangiopathy was observed in this series.
Discussion: In this series, DCD LT appears to provide results similar to classical LT. Short cold ischemia and recipient selection with low MELD score may be the keys to good results in DCD LT, in terms of graft survival and avoidance of ischemic cholangiopathy. If symptomatic ischemic cholangiopa- thy is diagnosed, adequate management with endoscopy and surgical hepaticojejunostomy may avoid graft loss and retransplantation.