Retrospective Analysis of Factors Affecting Postoperative Mortality and Morbidity in Liver Transplantation Surgery

Liver transplantation is still up to date as the only and definitive treatment for patients with end-stage liver failure. We examined the mortality and morbidity results of 28 patients who underwent liver transplantation in our clinic. METHODS: Data of 28 patients who underwent liver transplantation in our clinic between January 2018 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and included in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was 51.7 ± 12.7 years (20-73 years of age). Of the 28 patients, 21 were male (75%) and 7 were female (25%). The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 56.9 ± 3.4%. The mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was 22.3 ± 5.3. After one year follow-up, 8 of 28 patients died (28.6%). Two or more units of erythrocyte suspension (ES) were given to 5 of 8 patients who died (p = 0.044). Two patients received one or more units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP)(p = 0.011). It was observed that administration of ES and FFP to patients increased mortality. The mean operation time of the patients who died was 12.7±0.9 hours. It was found that prolonged operation time increased mortality (p=0.027). Five patients who died were operated for the second time due to surgical complications. It was found that second operation of patients increased mortality (p = 0.023). It was observed that taking the grafts from a living donor or cadaver had no effect on mortality (p=0.801). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was found that giving blood and blood products to patients who underwent liver transplantation, performing a second operation and prolonging the operation time increased mortality.