Using small size grafts in live donor liver transplantation: Is graft size important?

Abstract

Purpose: In living donor liver transplantation, it is preferred that the ratio of the weight of the graft to the weight of the recipient (GRWR) be higher than 0.8%. We aimed to compare recipients with a GRWR greater than 0.8% and those with a small GRWR regarding post-transplant complications and outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data of the patients who had undergone living donor liver transplant surgery in Istinye University Hospital Liver Transplant Unit between January 2017 and July 2022 were reviewed. The study group patients were classified as GRWR1% (Group 3) and compared regarding clinical data, complications, and mortality rates. Results: Liver transplant recipients from 220 living donors were included. The mean recipient age was 53.6 (18-79). The comparative analysis between Group 1 (n=29), Group 2 (n=70), and Group 3 (n=121) revealed significant differences concerning the rates of bile leak and the length of hospital stay (p=0.033, p