Technical Variant Liver Transplant Utilization for Pediatric Recipients: Equal Graft Survival to Whole Liver Transplants and Promotion of Timely Transplantation Only When Performed at High-volume Centers
Daniel J. Stoltz, Amy E. Gallo, Grant Lum, Julianne Mendoza, Carlos O. Esquivel, Andrew Bonham- Transplantation
Background.
Technical variant liver transplantation (TVLT) is a strategy to mitigate persistent pediatric waitlist mortality in the United States, although its implementation remains stagnant. This study investigated the relationship between TVLT utilization, transplant center volume, and graft survival.
Methods.
Pediatric liver transplant recipients from 2010 to 2020 (n = 5208) were analyzed using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database. Transplant centers were categorized according to the average number of pediatric liver transplants performed per year (high-volume, ≥5; low-volume, <5). Graft survival rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of graft failure.
Results.
High-volume centers demonstrated equivalent whole liver transplant and TVLT graft survival (
Conclusions.
Prompt transplantation with increased TVLT utilization at high-volume centers may reduce pediatric waitlist mortality without compromising graft survival.