Which is better to use “body weight” or “standard liver weight”, for predicting small‐for‐size graft syndrome after living donor liver transplantation?

Aim Little evidence about whether to apply graft‐to‐recipient body weight ratio (GRWR) or graft weight to standard liver weight (GW/SLW) for graft selection has been published. The aim of the present study was to clarify the importance of the correct use of GRWR and GW/SLW for selecting graft according to the recipients’ physique in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods Data were collected for 694 recipients who underwent LDLT between 1997 and 2020. Results One of the marginal grafts meeting GW/SLW ≥ 35% but GRWR < 0.7% has been used in more recipients with men and higher body mass index (BMI), and the other meeting GRWR ≥ 0.7% but GW/SLW < 35% has been used in more recipients with women with lower BMI. In the cohort of BMI > 30 kg/m 2 , the recipients with GRWR < 0.7% had a significantly higher incidence of small‐for‐size graft syndrome (SFSS) compared to those with GRWR ≥ 0.7% ( P  = 0.008, 46.2% vs 5.9%), and using the cutoff of GW/SLW < 35% could not differentiate. In contrast, in the cohort of BMI ≤ 30 kg/m 2 , the recipients with GW/SLW < 35% also had a significantly higher incidence of SFSS ( P  = 0.013, 16.9% vs 9.4%). Multivariate analysis showed that GRWR < 0.7% [odds ratio (OR) 14.145, P  = 0.048] was the independent risk factor for SFSS in obese recipients, and GW/SLW < 35% [OR 2.685, P  = 0.002] was the independent risk factor in non‐obese recipients. Conclusion Proper use of the formulas for calculating GRWR and GW/SLW in choosing graft according to recipient BMI is important, not only to meet metabolic demand for avoiding SFSS but also to ameliorate donor shortages.