DONOR CRITERIA FOR LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THEEFFECTS OF DONOR LIVER SELECTION

In a case-control study, the relevance of donor parameters used for do nor selection on final transplant outcome was studied. Two matched gro ups of 17 donors were created: one group of 'ideal' donors and a contr ol group not meeting the criteria for 'ideal' donors. Recipients of li vers from both groups were matched for liver disease, Karnovsky-score, Child-Pugh sumscore, and preservation solution used (EuroCollins or U W-solution). The effect of the donor liver selection criteria on trans plant outcome was measured by comparing the following parameters in bo th groups: intra-operative blood loss, the ALT in the first 3 days aft er grafting, occurrence of major postoperative complications, ICU-stay and graft and patient survival. Although, in the control group, bacte rial infections and abdominal hemorrhages occurred more frequently, wh ile leakage from the bile duct anastomosis was more prevalent in the ' ideal' group, the results for the other parameters studied indicated n o statistical differences between the two groups. It was concluded tha t adherence to strict selection criteria for liver donors did not impr ove final transplant outcome. However, use of less strict criteria pos sibly may cause a more complicated course directly after transplantati on.