ORTHOTOPIC LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION IN PATIENTS OVER 60 YEARS OLD

A retrospective examination was performed, including a case control st udy, of 40 patients aged 60 years and over who underwent liver transpl antation at Ring's College Hospital, London, UR, between 1988 and Sept ember 1993. There was no significant difference between elderly patien ts and younger patients in preoperative condition, intraoperative inte rventions, or outcome assessed by survival, complication rate, and dur ation of stay on the intensive care unit. The only significant differe nce between age groups was the median length of hospital stay, which w as 24 days for the elderly versus 20 days for younger patients. We con clude that age up to 70 years should not be a barrier to liver transpl antation.