Combined liver-intestine grafts compared with isolated intestinal transplantation in children: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal transplantation is known to be associated with a high risk of early complications and mortality. METHODS: We analyzed prospective data of 51 primary small bowel transplantations from December 1999 to August 2009 and identified perioperative factors that impact on early mortality (≤6 months after transplantation) after isolated intestinal (IITx; n=12) and combined liver-intestinal transplantation (CLITx group; n=39). RESULTS: Ten patients died during the first 6 months after transplantation, all of them in CLITx group (n=10/51, 19%). Multivariate analyses demonstrated intraoperative red blood cell transfusion greater than 70 mL/kg (P=0.019, odds ratio [OR]=13.79) and base excess 30-min after reperfusion less than -16 (P=0.001, OR=14.05), thrombocytopenia (<50,000 per dL) between day 1 and day 15 after transplantation (P=0.047, OR=5.22), and occurrence of vascular complications (P=0.003, OR=8.96) during the posttransplantation period as predictors of early mortality in CLITx group. CONCLUSION: Risk of mortality at 6 months after intestinal transplantation increased when the liver is included as combined graft. Strategies to reduce mortality such as refining selection for transplantation and early referral before the development of liver failure should be a priority.