The outcome of 228 liver grafts in 208 elective adult recipients was a
ssessed to identify any adverse effects of extending the length of col
d preservation with UW solution beyond 12 hr. A total of 114 grafts ha
d been preserved <12 hr-median 9.5 (group I) and 114 >12 hr-median 14.
5 (group II). Intraoperative blood and blood product usage, graft func
tion, hospital stay, and graft and patient survival were identical in
the two groups. Biliary strictures occurred in 5.7% of grafts (8 anast
omotic (3 group I, 5 group II; 5 hilar/nonanastomotic: 3 group I, 2 gr
oup II). There was no graft or patient loss due to the hilar stricture
s but 1 patient died following reconstruction of an anastomotic strict
ure (0.4%). It is concluded that extending the cold preservation to ap
proximately 15 hr does not adversely affect outcome after liver transp
lantation.