ORCID (Optional)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2742-4674
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8125-8764
Document Type
Original Report
Disciplines
Anesthesiology | Geriatrics | Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Background: The number of patients over the age of 65 awaiting liver transplantation (LT) continues to grow and an increasing number of patients will undergo liver transplantation. While age is not an absolute contraindication to liver transplantation, understanding the risks to older patients remains essential to ensure good outcomes with the limited number of grafts available.
Methods: This retrospective study included patients undergoing LT at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. A total of 421 patients were enrolled and stratified to patients under 65 years old (351 patients) and patients over 65 (70 patients). Geriatric patients were defined as aged over 65 years. Clinical information such as the Model for End-State Liver Disease (MELD), comorbidities, intra-operative findings, and patient and graft survival were examined. The study period included patients undergoing LT from January 1, 2015 and February 1, 2021.
Results: In comparing the two groups, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were more common in older patients. Intraoperative management was similar with no statistical difference in blood product transfusion or vasoactive support. Survival at 30 days was 100% and 98% for patients over 65 and patients under 65 respectively. Additionally, 1-year survival was 96% in the older cohort and 98% in the younger cohort.
Conclusion: Patients over age 65 showed similar outcomes compared to younger patients. Age alone should not be an absolute contraindication to LT. With careful evaluation and appropriate risk stratification, patients over age 65 can safely undergo LT.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.32873/unmc.dc.gmerj.6.2.007
Keywords
Liver transplantation, geriatrics, perioperative outcomes, blood product management
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Pester, N. S., Wilke, T. J., Shostrom, V. K., , Kassel, C. A. Perioperative Outcomes and Mortality in Liver Transplant Patients 65 and Older. Graduate Medical Education Research Journal. 2024 Dec 31; 6(2).
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/gmerj/vol6/iss2/7
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