Liver transplantation for severe hepatic trauma: A multicenter analysis from the UNOS data set

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is rarely indicated after hepatic trauma but it can be the only therapeutic option in some patients. There are scarce data analyzing the surgical outcomes of OLT after trauma.

We used the UNOS data set to identify patients who underwent OLT for trauma from 1987 to 2022 and compared them to a cohort of patients transplanted for other indications. Cox proportional hazard and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of graft and patient survival.

Seventy-two patients underwent OLT for trauma during the study period. Patients with trauma were more frequently on mechanical ventilation at the time of transplantation (26.4% vs. 7.6%, p < 0.001) and had a greater incidence of pretransplant portal vein thrombosis (12.5% vs. 4%, p = 0.002). Our 4:1 matched analysis showed that trauma patients had significantly shorter wait times, higher incidence of pretransplant portal vein thrombosis and prolonged length of stay. Trauma was associated with decreased overall graft survival (hazards ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.98), and increased length of stay ( p = 0.048). There were no significant differences in long-term patient survival.

Unique physiological and vascular challenges after severe hepatic trauma might be associated with decreased graft survival in patients requiring liver transplantation.

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.