Long-term outcomes of liver transplantation: A single-centre experience in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for severe liver failure. In Sri Lanka, LT is still in its early stages since it was first performed in 2010. This study describes the outcomes of patients who underwent LT since its first introduction in Sri Lanka in 2010. Consecutive LTs performed by the Professorial Vascular and Transplant Unit of the University of Colombo (LTUOC) were included. Data on patient demographics, type of hepatic venous reconstruction, postoperative complications, and clinical outcomes were analysed. Cases with incomplete data were excluded. A total of 23 LTs were included of which 19 (82.65%) were males. The mean age was 51.4 years (range: 35 64 years). The hepatic venous reconstruction techniques used were piggyback (PB) in 15 (65.22%), side-to-side cavostomy in 7 (30.43%), and classic technique in one (4.35%). Hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) occurred in three (13.04%), all following the PB technique. The mean follow-up duration was 35.2 months (range: 0.2 161.8 months). In this series, side-to-side cavostomy was associated with no occurrences of HVOO, suggesting it may help prevent this complication. The one-year and five-year survival rates were 80.0% and 73.3%, respectively. This outcome is comparable to that of units in their early stages of liver transplantation in other parts of the world.