Background: Living-donor (LD) liver transplantation has been developed as an alternative to overcome the shortage of cadaver donor organs for pediatric recipients.
Patients and methods: We reviewed our experience with 9 LD transplants performed between August 25, 1993 and August 3, 1994. The median recipient age and weight were 13 months and 10 kilograms. Left lateral segments from parental donors, with aortic inflow via saphenous vein grafts, were used in all cases.
Results: At a median follow-up of 160 days, all donors were alive and well. Recipient and graft survival were both 89%. Rates of hepatic artery thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, biliary complications, and acute rejection were 22%, 11%, 11%, and 67%, respectively.
Conclusions: Excellent outcome can be achieved with LD liver transplantation in small children with minimal donor risk. This procedure has the potential to emerge as the preferred treatment for pediatric liver transplant candidates for whom it is an option.