REUSE OF LIVER GRAFTS AFTER EARLY DEATH OF THE FIRST RECIPIENT

Three cases are reported of reuse of a transplanted liver graft after early death of the first recipient due to cerebral hemorrhage. The goo d condition of the donors; the excellent biochemical evolution of the graft in the first recipients; total ABO compatibility and donor-recip ient crossmatch; the absence of positivity to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and bacteriologic cultures; and early death made reuse possible. The shortage of donors in relation to patients on the waiting list and the poor clinical condition of the second recipi ents made it necessary to adopt the decision to reuse the graft in an attempt to save their lives. The evolution of the patients and the reu sed grafts was satisfactory, and there were no complications that coul d be attributed to the fact that the graft had been transplanted befor e.