Perioperative Complications After Pediatric Liver Transplantation-A Retrospective Analysis of 421 Cases

Abstract

Background: Due to the low incidence of pediatric liver transplantations, short- and long-term data regarding their outcome, details on early postoperative complications and their risk factors are under-represented in the literature.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1645 LTx performed at Hannover Medical School between January 2005 and December 2021. Of these, 421 transplantations were performed in 405 pediatric recipients. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions were performed to identify independent risk factors for the onset of selected perioperative complications requiring intervention within the first 30 days following transplantation and their influence on graft and patient survival.

Results: Pleural effusions represent the most common postoperative complication observed in 49.4% (n = 208) of cases, followed by vascular complications in 22.6% (n = 95) and biliary complications in 20.0% (n = 84) of cases. Donor age (OR: 1.019; p = 0.010) and recipient age between 3 and 12 years (OR: 1.849; p = 0.008) were identified as independent risk factors for the onset of pleural effusions. Retransplantations within the first year after LTx were necessary in 11.4% of all cases (n = 48). Twenty (4.8%) patients died within the first year after LTx.

Conclusion: Pleural effusions requiring postoperative intervention were observed in approximately half of the pediatric recipients. Therefore, the preemptive intraoperative placement of a chest drain under sterile conditions and general anesthesia should be considered. Our data further indicate that a two-stage procedure for biliary reconstruction may be the preferred procedure in patients at risk of early bile duct complications and retransplantation within the first year.

Keywords: biliary complications; body‐surface‐area; chest drain; donor‐recipient matching; liver weight; pediatric liver transplantation; pleural effusions; short term survival; surgical complications; vascular complications.