The utility of marginal donors in liver transplantation

Liver Transpl. 2003 Jul;9(7):651-63. doi: 10.1053/jlts.2003.50105.

Abstract

The shortage of organs has led centers to expand their criteria for the acceptance of marginal donors. The combination of multiple marginal factors seems to be additive on graft injury. In this review, the utility of various marginal donors in patients requiring liver transplantation will be described, including older donors, steatotic livers, non-heart-beating donors, donors with viral hepatitis, and donors with malignancies. The pathophysiology of the marginal donor will be discussed, along with strategies for minimizing the ischemia reperfusion injury experienced by these organs. Finally, new strategies for improving the function of the marginal/expanded donor liver will be reviewed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Fatty Liver / complications
  • Fatty Liver / surgery
  • Graft Survival
  • Heart Arrest / complications
  • Heart Arrest / surgery
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / complications
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / surgery
  • Humans
  • Liver Failure / complications
  • Liver Failure / surgery
  • Liver Transplantation / standards*
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / surgery
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Selection
  • Reperfusion Injury / prevention & control
  • Risk Factors
  • Tissue Donors / supply & distribution*
  • Transplants / standards*