ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the outcomes of paediatric living donor liver transplantation [LDLT] recipients from Pakistan in terms of 90-day morbidity and mortality
Study Design: Cohort study
Place and Duration of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, between April 2012 and April 2015
Methodology: All patients in paediatric age group [17 years] who underwent LDLT with a minimum follow-up of 3 months, were included. All grade 2 and above complications on Clavien-Dindo system were included as morbidity. The main outcome measure was 90-day morbidity and mortality
Results: Fourteen paediatric LDLTs were performed. Median age of the recipients was 8.5 years ranging between 6 months and 17 years. Wilson's disease and cryptogenic cirrhosis were the most common etiologies [28.6% each]. Acute liver failure was present in 5 [35.7%] patients. Overall 90-day morbidity and mortality was 71.4% and 14.2%; both were attributable to pulmonary infection. No difference was observed in morbidity [21.3% vs. 42.8%, p=0.3] and mortality rates [20% vs. 11%, p=1.0] between patients with acute and chronic liver failure. Estimated 3-year survival was 85%
Conclusion: Paediatric LDLT offers a promising treatment option for acute and chronic liver failure. Mortality was attributable to post-transplant pulmonary infections