Search

Background: Outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) from donation after circulatory death (DCD) have been improving; however, ischemic cholangiopathy (IC) continues to be a problem. In 2014, measures to minimize donor hepatectomy time (DHT) and cold ischemic time (CIT) have been adopted to improve DCD LT outcomes., Methods: Retrospective review of all patients who underwent DCD LT between 2005 and 2017 was performed. We compared outcomes of patients who were transplanted before 2014 (historic group) with those who were transplanted between 2014 and 2017 (modern group)., Results: We identified 112 patients; 44 were in the historic group and 68 in the modern group. Donors in the historic group were younger (26.5 versus 33, P = 0.007) and had a lower body mass index (26.2 versus 28.2, P = 0.007). DHT (min) and CIT (h) were significantly longer in the historic group (21.5 versus 14, P < 0.001 and 5.3 versus 4.2, P < 0.001, respectively). Fourteen patients (12.5%) developed IC, with a significantly higher incidence in the historic group (23.3% versus 6.1%, P = 0.02). There was no difference in graft and patient survival between both groups., Conclusion: In appropriately selected recipients, minimization of DHT and CIT may decrease the incidence of IC. These changes can potentially expand the DCD donor pool., Competing Interests: The authors declare no funding or conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Transplantation Direct. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) carries a poor prognosis unless liver transplantation is offered. We present risk factors associated with proceeding with liver transplantation in patients with ACLF., Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with ACLF who presented to a single transplant center between January 2016 and December 2017 was performed. We compared patients who were transplanted with patients who were not., Results: During the study period, 144 patients with ACLF were identified, 86 patients (59.7%) were transplanted, and 58 were not. The transplanted patients had a lower number of failed organs (4 versus 5, P < 0.001) and lower incidence of ACLF grade 3 (76.7% versus 94.8%, P = 0.014) compared with nontransplanted patients. Liver transplantation offered a 1-y survival of 86% as compared to 12% in the nontransplanted group. Hospital charges were significantly higher among transplanted patients as compared with the nontransplanted patients ($227 886 versus $88 900, P < 0.001). Elevated serum lactate was a risk factor in not offering liver transplantation in ACLF patients., Conclusions: In appropriately selected patients with ACLF, liver transplantation is feasible and can provide above 86% 1-y patient survival even in grade 3 ACLF., Competing Interests: The authors declare no funding or conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Transplantation Direct. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Increased worldwide focus on maximal donor utilization and transplantation of patients once considered too ill to survive liver transplantation may increase the otherwise rare frequency of catastrophic graft failure. Although the deleterious effects of an acutely failing allograft have been established for decades, the optimal strategy in this patient population in the perioperative period remains ill-defined., Methods: A retrospective review of all liver transplant recipients with perioperative failure leading to transplant hepatectomy between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2017 was performed. All patients were supported with MARS therapy while awaiting retransplantation., Results: Four patients experienced catastrophic graft failure from massive exsanguination and liver fracture (1), portal vein and hepatic artery thrombosis (1), idiopathic necrosis (1), and necrosis from inadequate donor flushing/primary nonfunction (1). All patients improved following transplant hepatectomy with portacaval shunting. Patients were supported with intubation, vasopressors, renal replacement therapy, and Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System therapy. All patients underwent retransplantation after a mean anhepatic phase of 48.8 (± 5.13) h. Survival to discharge was 75%., Conclusions: Although catastrophic liver failure is highly challenging, acceptable outcomes can be achieved with timely hepatectomy with portacaval shunt and retransplantation, particularly in patients supported with the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System device., Competing Interests: The authors declare no funding or conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Transplantation Direct. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Vascularized composite allografts (VCA) have demonstrated good clinical outcomes dependent on chronic immunosuppression. Previous work by our group and others supports that cotransplanted vascularized bone marrow (VBM) as a component of VCA offers immunologic protection to prolong graft survival. We aimed to characterize the requirements and potential mechanisms of VBM-mediated protection of VCA by modifying grafts through various strategies., Methods: Experimental groups of mismatched cynomolgus macaque recipients received VCA transplants modified by the following approaches: heterotopic separation of the VCA and VBM components; T-cell depletion of either donor or recipient; irradiation of donor VCA; and infusion of donor bone marrow. All groups received standard immunosuppression with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil., Results: Experimental modifications to donor, recipient, or graft all demonstrated short-graft survivals (31 d). Chimerism levels without bone marrow infusion were transient and minimal when detected and were not associated with prolonged survival. Donor bone marrow infusion increased levels of chimerism but resulted in alloantibody production and did not improve graft survival., Conclusions: VCA graft survival is significantly reduced compared with previously reported VCA with VBM transplants (348 d; P  = 0.01) when the hematopoietic niche is removed, altered, or destroyed via irradiation, depletion, or topographical rearrangement. These experimental manipulations resulted in similar outcomes to VCA grafts without cotransplanted VBM (25 d). These data support the presence of a radiosensitive, T-cell population within the VBM compartment not reconstituted by reinfusion of bone marrow cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Transplantation Direct. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)