This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS
The national liver transplantation audit: an overview of patients presenting for liver transplantation from 1994 to 1998. BJS 2001; 88: 52-58.
Published: 6th December 2002
Authors: P. Hartley, A. Petruckevitch, B. Reeves, K. Rolles
Background
The aim of this study was to describe current clinical practice in liver transplantation in the UK and Ireland, to provide overall 1‐year graft and patient survival rates, and to study some preoperative risk factors.
Method
All patients receiving a liver transplant in the UK or Ireland between 1 March 1994 and 30 September 1998 were included. Data were collected on patients at the time of transplantation, 3 months after grafting and annually thereafter until the patient's death. The main outcome measures were graft and patient survival at 1 year.
Results
A total of 3102 liver transplants were carried out, of which 87 per cent were first transplants. The mean age at first transplantation was 42 (range 0–76) years. The most common indications for transplantation were primary biliary cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis and posthepatitis C cirrhosis, but variations existed between sexes and centres. Risk factors associated with lower graft and patient survival were the presence of acute disease, being transplanted from hospital, and the need for renal and/or ventilatory support before operation.
Conclusion
Donor and recipient demographics are consistent with data held by the European Liver Transplant Registry, as are 1‐year graft and patient survival rates. Variation across centres in factors such as the primary indication for liver transplantation, population demographics, the clinical status of each patient, incidence of retransplantation and other risk factors contributes to the problem of adjusting for case mix. © 2001 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd
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