Liver Transplantation in Patients over Sixty Years of Age

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Orthotopic liver transplantation is considered a standard procedure for patients with end-stage liver disease. Liver transplantation in older patients has increased, with generally acceptable results. In Korea we have an aging population. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the results of liver transplantation in patients more than 60 years of age at Asan Medical Center. METHODS: Fifty-four patients, age 60 and over, received a liver transplantation at Asan Medical Center between January 1998 and June 2005. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of these patients. All patients were assessed according to the following variables age, gender, clinical features, indications for transplantation, surgical findings, the hospital stay following liver transplantation, days in the intensive care unit, complications, and survival. RESULTS: The mean age of the recipients was 62.4 years. The transplant indications were 28 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 15 of HBV related cirrhosis. There was postoperative mortality (up to 3 months) in seven patients (13.21%). The mean ICU and hospital stays were 8.04 and 36.8 days, respectively. Overall, the patient survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years was 83.02%, 75.47% and 75.47%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that chronologic age should not be a contraindication to liver transplantation, especially if the pretransplant evaluation shows no comorbid disease that could increase the mortality rate.