USE OF LIVER ALLOGRAFTS FROM CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONED CADAVERIC DONORS

Carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation leads to cerebral, cardiac, and, more rarely, liver damage. The use of liver allografts from CO poisoned don ors with evidence of liver damage has not previously been reported. In this report we describe two recipients, both in fulminant hepatic fai lure, who received liver grafts from such donors. One donor had marked ly abnormal liver function tests (LFTS), and in the other LFTS were mi ldly abnormal. In both, the liver appeared normal at procurement. Ther e was satisfactory early function of both allografts, although marked patchy necrosis was seen on the postreperfusion biopsy (case 1), and o n a 10 day postoperative biopsy (case 2). In both cases the changes we re considered to be related to damage sustained from CO inhalation. Bo th allografts soon achieved normal function and both recipients are we ll, We conclude that CO poisoning can cause liver damage that can reco ver completely following liver transplantation.