A recent study (H Yamamoto et al. Liver Transplantation 2019; 25: 1561-70) provides data on the outcomes of infants who underwent liver transplantation (LT) in the United Kingdom (King’s College Hospital).

A total of 64 infants underwent LT (1989-2014) at a single institution. The authors compared “extra-small” (XS) infants in the first 3 months of life to “small” (S) who were 3-6 months of age.

Key findings:

• Acute liver failure was the main indication for LT in the XS group (n=31, 84%) compared to the S group (7, 26%)
• Hepatic artery thrombosis and portal vein thrombosis were similar in both groups: 5.4% and 10.8% in the XS and 7.4% and 11.1% in the S group
• Bilary stricture and leakage were similar: 5.4% and 2.7% in the XS and 3.7% and 3.7% in the S group
• 1-, 5-, and 10-year survivals were 70.3%, 70.3% and 70.3% in the XS group and 92.6%, 88.9%, and 88.9% in the S group (not statistically significant)

Related blog posts:

• “Big Improvements for Smallest Recipients” with Bad Liver Disease
• Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Past Time to Split
• Picking winners and losers with liver transplantation allocation

Quebec City, Frontenac Hotel and Boardwalk (early in the day)