Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) as a Source of Liver Grafts: Honouring the Ultimate Gift.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical outcomes of liver transplants from donors after medical assistance in dying (MAiD) versus donors after cardiac death (DCD) and deceased brain death (DBD). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In North America, the number of patients needing liver transplants exceeds the number of available donors. In 2016, MAiD was legalized in Canada. METHODS: All patients undergoing deceased donor liver transplantation at Toronto General Hospital between 2016 and 2021 were included in the study. Recipient perioperative and postoperative variables and donor physiological variables were compared among 3 groups. RESULTS: Eight hundred seven patients underwent deceased donor liver transplantation during the study period, including DBD (n=719; 89%), DCD (n=77; 9.5%), and MAiD (n=11; 1.4%). The overall incidence of biliary complications was 6.9% (n=56), the most common being strictures (n=55;6.8%), highest among the MAiD recipients [5.8% (DBD) vs. 14.2% (DCD) vs. 18.2% (MAiD); P =0.008]. There was no significant difference in 1 year (98.4% vs. 96.4% vs. 100%) and 3-year (89.3% vs. 88.7% vs. 100%) ( P =0.56) patient survival among the 3 groups. The 1- and 3- year graft survival rates were comparable (96.2% vs. 95.2% vs. 100% and 92.5% vs. 91% vs. 100%; P =0.37). CONCLUSION: With expected physiological hemodynamic challenges among MAiD and DCD compared with DBD donors, a higher rate of biliary complications was observed in MAiD donors, with no significant difference noted in short-and long-term graft outcomes among the 3 groups. While ethical challenges persist, good initial results suggest that MAiD donors can be safely used in liver transplantation, with results comparable with other established forms of donation.

Rare constellation of abdominal vascular injuries in blunt trauma: Left gastric artery pseudoaneurysms and dissection.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal visceral artery pseudoaneurysms and dissections in blunt trauma are uncommon, however, solitary vascular injury of the left gastric artery and development of multifocal dissections are extremely rare with only 5 reported cases in the literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 79-year-old male presents two days after a motor boating incident in profound hemorrhagic shock. Subsequent CT imaging revealed moderate hemoperitoneum, two pseudoaneurysms of the left gastric artery measuring 6 mm and 9 mm, as well as attenuation of the artery in keeping with a focal dissection and intramural thrombus, and no active extravasation. After stabilization with blood product resuscitation, he was managed conservatively with administration of ASA and close monitoring. CONCLUSION: Abdominal visceral artery vascular injuries in blunt trauma can be managed safely with close monitoring, antithrombotic agent, and medical co-morbidity optimization. Instability or worsening/ persistent symptoms should be considered for endovascular treatment or surgical ligation Further research and reporting of management approaches are required.