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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Porcine Liver Transplantation Without Veno-Venous Bypass As an Extended Criteria Donor Model
Published on: August 17, 2022
Liver Transplantations and Brain Dead Donors With Alcohol Abuse
U Maggi1, M Iavarone2, M Fabbi1
1Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Selected liver grafts from donors with a history of alcohol abuse can be used for liver transplantation (LT), despite increased early allograft dysfunction, leading to good patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Transplantation Surgery
- Organ Donation
Background:
- Liver grafts from donors with alcohol abuse history are typically excluded from liver transplantation (LT).
- Evaluating the viability of these grafts is crucial for expanding donor pools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the clinical outcomes of liver transplantation using grafts from donors with a history of alcohol abuse.
- To compare graft and recipient data between donors with and without alcohol abuse history.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study of 5 adult LT patients receiving grafts from alcohol-abusing donors (Group 1) versus 10 matched controls (Group 2) from 2011-2016.
- Analysis of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data, including liver function tests and allograft outcomes.
Main Results:
- Group 1 donors had higher gamma-glutamyl transferase levels.
- Recipients in Group 1 showed higher peak aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and total bilirubin levels post-LT.
- Early allograft dysfunction was significantly higher in Group 1 (80% vs. 20%), but long-term survival was similar between groups.
Conclusions:
- Selected liver grafts from donors with alcohol abuse history can be safely utilized in LT.
- Despite increased early allograft dysfunction, these grafts can yield favorable long-term clinical results.
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