Indications and results of liver retransplantation: experience with 1181 patients in the hospital universitario La Fe

Abstract Liver retransplantation (LrT) is the only therapeutic option for irreversible failure of a hepatic graft and accounts for 2.9%–24.0% of all liver transplantations (LT). It is technically difficult and has a high level of immediate morbidity and a lower survival than primary LT. Our aim was to determine the rate of LrT and its indications, morbidity, post-operative mortality and actuarial survival in the retransplanted patient. Patients and method A historical cohort study of 1181 patients transplanted between 1991 and 2006. Results Of the 1260 LT performed, 79 were LrT. At the time of the first LT there were no differences between those patients and those that did not require an LrT. The LrT rate was 6.3% and the most frequent causes were: hepatic artery thrombosis (31.6%), recurrence of cirrhosis due the HVC (30.4%) and primary graft (21.5%). The ischemia times, perfusion syndrome and hepatic congestion were no different between the primary LT and the LrT. On the other hand, red cell transfusions were higher in LrT (6.3 ± 4.9 vs 3.5 ± 3.0 units, P P  = .04 and 25.3% vs 10.9%, P  P Conclusions Despite the increased morbidity and mortality of LrT, it appears that this treatment alternative is still valid in those patients with an early loss of the liver graft. On the other hand, when the graft loss is delayed, it needs to be defined, what would be the minimum acceptable results to indicate LrT and which patients could benefit from this treatment.