BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is recognized as the treatment of choice for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in patients with end-stage liver failure. However, because of limited organ availability, not all those who qualify can benefit from it. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, we accepted and subsequently transplanted 10 deceased donor liver allografts allocated through Eurotransplant. These organs had been officially offered to and rejected by other transplant centers a total of 40 times due to medical or logistical reasons prior to our acceptance. They were implanted into patients in the waiting list with HCC and cirrhosis. Recipients without HCC transplanted with such "undesirable" grafts were not included in this study. RESULTS: Two patients had initial poor graft function but subsequently recovered. There was one arterial complication requiring reintervention. Median intensive care unit and hospital stays were 6 and 28 days respectively. One patient developed renal insufficiency, but recovered after 3 months. One patient developed HCC recurrence in the allograft and underwent a successful atypical liver resection 23 months after transplantation. All patients are currently alive, with follow-up periods ranging from 5 to 36 months. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation with such "livers that nobody wants" constitutes an additional option for patients with HCC and cirrhosis. The risk-benefit ratio in these instances should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is recognized as the treatment of choice for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in patients with end-stage liver failure. However, because of limited organ availability, not all those who qualify can benefit from it. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, we accepted and subsequently transplanted 10 deceased donor liver allografts allocated through Eurotransplant. These organs had been officially offered to and rejected by other transplant centers a total of 40 times due to medical or logistical reasons prior to our acceptance. They were implanted into patients in the waiting list with HCC and cirrhosis. Recipients without HCC transplanted with such "undesirable" grafts were not included in this study. RESULTS: Two patients had initial poor graft function but subsequently recovered. There was one arterial complication requiring reintervention. Median intensive care unit and hospital stays were 6 and 28 days respectively. One patient developed renal insufficiency, but recovered after 3 months. One patient developed HCC recurrence in the allograft and underwent a successful atypical liver resection 23 months after transplantation. All patients are currently alive, with follow-up periods ranging from 5 to 36 months. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation with such "livers that nobody wants" constitutes an additional option for patients with HCC and cirrhosis. The risk-benefit ratio in these instances should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Authors: Lucas McCormack; Emilio Quiñonez; María Martha Ríos; Pablo Capitanich; Nicolás Goldaracena; Javier Kerman Cabo; Margarita Anders; Javier Osatnik; Pablo Comignani; Norberto Mezzadri; Ricardo Cesar Mastai Journal: HPB (Oxford) Date: 2010-10 Impact factor: 3.647
Authors: Henning Reis; Patricia T Peterek; Jeremias Wohlschlaeger; Gernot M Kaiser; Zoltan Mathe; Benjamin Juntermanns; Georgios C Sotiropoulos; Ulrich Beckhove; Ali Canbay; Ulrike Wirges; Andre Scherag; Juergen-Walter Treckmann; Andreas Paul; Hideo Andreas Baba Journal: Virchows Arch Date: 2013-12-03 Impact factor: 4.064
Authors: Georgios C Sotiropoulos; Hauke Lang; George Sgourakis; Silvio Nadalin; Ernesto P Molmenti; Arnold Radtke; Andreas Paul; Susanne Beckebaum; Fuat H Saner; Hideo A Baba; Guido Gerken; Massimo Malagó; Christoph E Broelsch Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2008-07-02 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Hauke Lang; Georgios C Sotiropoulos; Gernot M Kaiser; Ernesto P Molmenti; Massimo Malagó; Christoph E Broelsch Journal: HPB (Oxford) Date: 2005 Impact factor: 3.647
Authors: Georgios C Sotiropoulos; Arnold Radtke; Klaus J Schmitz; Ernesto P Molmenti; Tobias Schroeder; Fuat H Saner; Hideo A Baba; Ioannis Fouzas; Christoph E Broelsch; Massimo Malagó; Hauke Lang Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2007-12-14 Impact factor: 3.199