Controlled donation after circulatory death up to 80 years for liver transplantation: Pushing the limit again

Abstract

Our main objective was to compare liver transplant (LT) results between donation after circulatory death (DCD) and donation after brainstem death (DBD) in our hospital and to analyze, within the DCD group, the influence of age on the results obtained with DCD donors aged >70 years and up to 80 years. All DCD-LTs performed were analyzed prospectively. The results of the DCD group were compared with those of a control group who received a DBD-LT immediately after each DCD-LT. Later, the results obtained within the DCD group were analyzed according to the age of the donors, considering 2 subgroups with a cut-off point at 70 years. Survival results for LT with DCD and super rapid recovery were not inferior to those obtained in a similar group of patients transplanted with DBD livers. However, the cost of DCD was a higher rate of biliary complications, including ischemic cholangiopathy. Donor age was not a negative factor.