Orthotopic liver transplantation in patients over 60 years old

A retrospective examination was performed, including a case control study, of 40 patients aged 60 years and over who underwent liver transplantation at King's College Hospital, London, UK, between 1988 and September 1993. There was no significant difference between elderly patients and younger patients in preoperative condition, intraoperative interventions, or outcome assessed by survival, complication rate, and duration of stay on the intensive care unit. The only significant difference between age groups was the median length of hospital stay, which was 24 days for the elderly versus 20 days for younger patients. We conclude that age up to 70 years should not be a barrier to liver transplantation.