[Liver and liver segment transplantation in adults and children. Experiences with the first 50 cases]

The experience with 50 liver transplants performed in 42 patients within a 16 months period is reviewed. There were 15 transplantations in 12 children and 35 in 30 adults. The series was analysed regarding the source of transplant, i.e. living related (LR) n = 2 or cadaver (CAD) n = 48, graft size i.e. full size (FS) n = 34, reduced size (RED) n = 12 and split grafts (SG) n = 4. Regarding the preservation time or operating time there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. The overall function rate was 88%, 94% for FS and 73.4% for the remaining partial grafts (RED and SG). The difference was not significant (p = 0.062). Biliary leakage occurred in one (2%) reduced graft. Hepatic artery complications (kinking, intima dissection) were encountered in two (4%) patients receiving a FS. It is concluded that the use of partial liver grafts is a safe procedure to alleviate organ shortage while preservation time and operating time are not prolonged as compared to the transplantation of full size grafts.