Graft size and donor age are independent factors for graft loss in adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation using the left liver

Background/purpose  Graft survival is affected by various factors, such as preoperative state and the ages of the recipient and donor, as well as graft size. The objective of this study was to analyze the risk factors for graft survival. Methods  From September 1997 to July 2005, 24 patients who had undergone living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) were retrospectively analyzed. Sixteen patients survived and the eight graft-loss cases were classified into two groups according to the cause of graft loss: graft dysfunction without major post-transplantation complications (graft dysfunction group; n = 3), and graft dysfunction with such complications (secondary graft dysfunction group; n = 5). Various factors were compared between these groups and the survival group. Results  Mean donor age was 31.9 years in the survival group and 49.2 years in the secondary graft dysfunction group (P = 0.024). Graft weight/recipient standard liver volume ratios (G/SLVs) were 36.7% in the survival group, and 26.2% in the graft dysfunction group (P = 0.037). The postoperative mean PT% for 1 week was 48.6% in the survival group and 38.1% in the secondary graft dysfunction group (P = 0.05). Conclusions  Our surgical results demonstrated that G/SLV and donor age were independent factors that affected graft survival rates.