Logistic Coordination in Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Criteria for Optimization

Abstract Introduction Logistic organization of the transplantation coordination process aims to synchronize the recovery and recipient team and to reduce to a minimum the graft’s cold ischemia time (CIT), which, in turn, is known, to have deleterious effects on the graft and recipient, if prolonged. To determine whether variables influencing the different steps in the coordination process might allow for reducing CIT, this study aimed to analyze these variables. Patients and methods Retrospective analysis of 61 pediatric liver transplantations from 2006 to 2015 in the Geneva University Hospitals. Results Length of donor hepatectomy was increased for split grafts (P  Conclusion CIT depends on waiting times during the entire coordination process, which largely depends on the estimation of hepatectomy lengths. A more accurate estimation, considering graft type and recipient’s previous surgery and weight, might allow for decreasing CIT and consequently improve outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation.