Outcome of liver transplantation using donors older than 60 years of age

The impact of donor age on liver transplantation has been analyzed in several studies with contradictory results. Our aim was to evaluate graft survival and complications in the first year after liver transplantations with livers from older donors.

Prospective analysis of 149 consecutive primary liver transplantations performed between 2000 and 2005. Transplantations were divided into two groups according to donor age: group A, <60 yr old (n=102); and group B, ≥60 yr old (n=47).

Chronic and acute rejection, vascular complications, and infections were not statistically different between the groups. Anastomotic biliary strictures were similar in the two groups, but non-anastomotic biliary strictures (NABS) were clearly more frequent in the older donor group (17% vs. 4.9%; OR 3.9; p=0.025). NABS with no arterial complication was diagnosed in 10.6% of cases in group B vs. 1% in group A (OR=12; p=0.012). Graft survival in the first year was 86.67% in the younger group of donors and 71.43% in the older group (p<0.05), but patient survival was not different.

The use of grafts from donors≥60 yr decreased graft survival after liver transplantation and was related to a higher frequency of non-anastomotic biliary strictures.