Allocation procedure has no impact on patient and graft outcome after liver transplantation

Summary The aim of our study was to compare the postoperative outcome after liver transplantation (LT) in patients who received a donor liver via standard or rescue allocation (RA). Special emphasize was laid on the effect extended donor criteria might have on the outcome. One hundred and ten LTs have been performed at the University Hospital Aachen, Germany. A total of 49 patients were included in the standard allocation (SA) group and 53 patients in the RA group. The outcome of LT in both groups was evaluated by the length of stay on the intensive care unit (ICU), duration of hospitalization, 1-year patient survival, 1-year graft survival, incidence of primary nonfunction and major complications. Patients in group RA had a significant shorter ICU and overall hospital stay. The 1-year graft survival was 87.8% in group SA and 88.7% in group RA. The 1-year patient survival was 87.9% in group SA and 96.2% in group RA. The number of re-LT was 2% in group SA and 7.5% in group RA. Organs that were rejected for transplantation several times can successfully be transplanted through the RA procedure, thereby enlarging the donor pool without negative effects on the quality of LT.