Short Term Donor Outcomes After Hepatectomy in Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Objective: To determine the outcome of living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) donors from the first liver transplant program in Pakistan. Study Design: Cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from April 2012 to August 2014. Methodology: A total of 100 live donors who underwent hepatectomy were included. Demographics, etiologies, graft characteristics and operative variables were retrospectively assessed. Outcome was assessed based on morbidity and mortality. Results: Median donor age was 28 (17 - 45) years and median body mass index (BMI) was 24 kg/m2 (15 - 36). Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Hepatitis B and C were the most common underlying etiologies and accounted for 79/100 (79%) of LDLT's. Overall, 93/100 (93%) donors donated a right lobe graft. Median estimated graft weight to recipient body weight (GW/BW) ratio was 1.03 (0.78 - 2). Standard arterial anatomy was present in 56% donors. The 90-day morbidity was 13/100 (13%) and overall morbidity was 17/100 (17%). Bile leak was encountered in 3 (3%) patients. There was no donor mortality. Conclusion: Acceptable short-term donor outcomes were achieved in an LDLT program in Pakistan with careful donor selection and planning. (author)