Learning curve for living-donor liver transplantation in a fledgling cancer center

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become one of the main indications for liver transplantation. To keep abreast of the times, a comprehensive cancer center may have to perform liver transplantation as a treatment option for HCC. We introduce a learning curve for living-donor liver transplantation(LDLT) and present our initial experience in a new cancer center as an example to any center considering LDLT. A total of 51 consecutive adult right liver LDLTs performed from January 2005 to January 2008 were analyzed by comparing the first 17 transplants performed with the help of an outside experienced team (group 1) with the middle 17 (group 2) and the last 17 cases(group 3) performed in our center independently. There was no hospital mortality in donors and recipients. In a mean follow-up of 34 months (range: 12-48 months), there was only one case of late mortality in donor and recipient,respectively. A total of four donors and 12 recipients underwent re-operations.The warm ischemic time was significantly longer in group 2 than that in groups 1 and 3. Otherwise, there was no significant difference in the operative outcomes among the three groups. Thorough preparation and the assistance of an experienced liver transplantation team at the beginning can facilitate a more rapid learning curve and bring about a good outcome even in a small, newly established institution.