Liver transplantation (LT) offers excellent long-term outcome for certain patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a push to not simply rely on tumor size and number. Selection criteria should also consider tumor biology (including alpha-fetoprotein), probability of waitlist and post-LT survival (ie, transplant benefit), organ availability, and waitlist composition. These criteria may be expanded for live donor LT (LDLT) compared to deceased donor LT though this should not adversely affect the double equipoise in LDLT, namely ensuring both acceptable recipient outcomes and donor safety. HCC patients with compensated liver disease and minimal tumor burden have low urgency for LT, especially after local-regional therapy with complete response, and do not appear to derive the same benefit from LT as other waitlist candidates. These guidelines were developed to assist in selecting appropriate HCC patients for both deceased donor LT and LDLT.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often occurs in patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma has the potential to eliminate both the tumor as well as the underlying cirrhosis and is the ideal treatment for HCC in cirrhotic liver as well as massive HCC in noncirrhotic liver. Limitations in organ availability, necessitate stringent selection of patients who would likely to derive most benefit. Selection criteria have considered tumor size, number, volume as well as biological features. The Milan criteria set the benchmark for tumors that would benefit from liver transplantation but were found to be excessively restrictive. Modest expansion in criteria has also been shown to be associated with equivalent survival. Microvascular invasion is the single most important adverse prognostic factor for survival. Living donor liver transplantation has expanded donor options and has the advantage of lower waiting period and not impacting the non-HCC waiting list. Acceptable outcomes have been obtained with living donor liver transplantation for larger and more numerous tumors in the absence of microvascular invasion. Downstaging of tumors to prevent progression while waiting for an organ or for reduction in size to allow enrolment for transplantation has met with variable success.

Background. The principle in right lobe living donor liver transplantation is to use “near-perfect” grafts to maximize recipient benefit with minimal donor risk. Whether and what degree of graft macrovesicular steatosis is safe for both recipient and donor is debatable. Methods. We compared donor and recipient outcomes in 623 primary right lobe living donor liver transplantations, using grafts with (Group A; 10%–20% steatosis, n = 92) and without (Group B; <10%, n = 531) significant macrovesicular steatosis, on pre- or intraoperative biopsy. Results. Group A donors had higher body mass index, transaminases, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein level, and lower high density lipoprotein, and liver attenuation index on CT scan, and similar future liver remnant. Mean postoperative day (POD) 7, aspartate aminotransferase (61.13 + 24.77 vs 73.17 + 53.71 IU/L; P = 0.04), and prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (1.16 + 0.36 vs 1.28 + 0.24; P = 0.0001) were lower in Group A donors. POD3 of 7 total bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase; POD3 aspartate aminotransferase and prothrombin time-international normalized ratio; postoperative morbidity (Dindo-Clavien >3b), hospital stay were similar in both groups. Recipients in both groups had similar age, model for end-stage liver disease score. Right lobe graft weight (764.8 + 145.46 vs 703.24 + 125.53 grams; P < 0.0001) and GRWR (1.09 + 0.29 vs 1.00 + 0.21; P = 0.0004) were higher in Group A. All biochemical parameters at POD 3 of 7, as well as hospital stay, 30-day mortality were similar in recipients of both groups, even after matching both groups for age, model for end-stage liver disease, and GRWR. Conclusions. Use of well-selected right lobe grafts (adequate future liver remnant in donor, GRWR in recipient), with up to 20% macrovesicular steatosis, does not compromise graft function and outcomes and is safe for the donor.

Background and Aims:Fast tracking (FT) for more efficacious use of resources may be difficult after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to a partial liver graft, complex vascular anastomoses and longer operating time. Our study was aimed at reporting our experience with FT (on table extubation) in LDLT recipients. A secondary objective of our study was to look at defining a subgroup of patients who could be prospectively planned for FT.Methods:We studied the demographics and outcomes of 15 LDLT recipients extubated immediately in the operating suite based on an uneventful intraoperative course, haemodynamic stability after graft reperfusion and improvement of metabolic parameters post-implantation and vascular anastomoses.Results:Twelve recipients were males, and mean age, body mass index (BMI) and Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score were 43 ± 12 years, 23 ± 3 kg/m2 and 15.5 ± 6, respectively, most were Child–Turcotte–Pugh Class B. Diabetes and hypothyroidism were present in 1 and 2 patients, respectively. Post-extubation, none required immediate re-intubation and one patient needed non-invasive ventilation for 2 h.Conclusion:Fast tracked recipients were young, with a low BMI, low MELD scores, minimal comorbidities and good immediate graft function post-reperfusion.

Introduction Trichosporon asahii is an emerging cause of systemic fungal infection in an immunocompromised host. Several life threatening disseminated T. asahii infection in single solid organ (liver or kidney) transplant recipients, in neutropenic and hematological malignancy patients have been reported. Case presentation (Methods and Results) A 49‐year old gentleman who underwent simultaneous living‐donor liver transplantation (donor sister) and kidney transplant (donor wife) developed fever and subsegmental patchy consolidation with right sided pleural effusion on fourth postoperative day. Central line blood stream infection was suspected. Blood culture grew creamy white colonies of T. asahii on blood agar with characteristic dirty‐green colonies on CHROMagar. Laboratory analysis of pleural fluid also revealed budding yeast cells identified as T. asahii. Microscopy of the isolates showed hyphae, arthroconidia, and blastospores. The isolates were identified as T. asahii by VITEK MS which uses matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) technology. Initially liposomal amphotericin B and micafungin was initiated, but due to lack of clinical and microbiological response, patient was switched to voriconazole. Simultaneously, tacrolimus doses were reduced to one‐third in view of interaction with voriconazole. Subsequently, patient improved with resolution of fever and microbiological cure. Conclusion This is the first case report of disseminated T. asahii infection in a combined liver‐kidney transplant recipient successfully treated with voriconazole. Azole antifungal are the promising drug of choice for systemic T. asahii infection. Drug interactions should be considered while using these antifungal agents.

No abstract

No abstract

refractory infection with a high mortality rate. We present this case as a difficult clinical problem and a unique pediatric experience.