SummaryDonor criteria for liver grafts have been expanded because of organ shortage. Currently, no exact definitions for extended donor grafts have been established. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of donor-specific risk factors, independent of recipient characteristics. In collaboration with Eurotransplant and European Liver Transplant Register, solely donor-specific parameters were correlated with 1-year survival following liver transplantation. Analyses of 4701 donors between 2000 and 2005 resulted in the development of a nomogram to estimate graft survival for available grafts. Predictions by nomogram were compared to those by Donor Risk Index (DRI). In the multivariate analysis, cold ischemic time (CIT), highest sodium, cause of donor death, c-glutamyl transferase (c-GT), and donor sex (female) were statistically significant factors for 3 months; CIT, c-GT, and cause of donor death for 12-month survival. The median DRI of this study population was 1.45 (Q1: 1.17; Q3: 1.67). The agreement between the nomogram and DRI was weak (kappa = 0.23). Several donor-specific risk factors were identified for early survival after liver transplantation. The provided nomogram will support quick organ quality assessment. Nevertheless, this study showed the difficulties of determining an exact definition of extended criteria donors.

Histologically proven complete resection is an effective treatment for gastric GIST. Laparoscopic procedures were carried out successfully in selected patients.

LAGB shows promising results in the long-term follow-up with continuous weight loss in patients with a functional band. Nevertheless, most of the weight loss is within the first 3 years after surgery. Thereafter, further weight reduction is about 10% over the following 2 years. Perioperative comorbidities resolve within the first 5 years after treatment.

Patients with cirrhosis on the liver transplant (LT) waiting list may die or be removed due to complications of portal hypertension (PH) or infections. Von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are simple, broadly available markers of these processes. We determined whether addition of vWF-Ag and CRP to the MELD-Na score improves risk stratification of patients awaiting LT. CRP and vWF-Ag at LT listing were assessed in 2 independent cohorts (Medical University of Vienna [exploration cohort] and Mayo Clinic Rochester [validation cohort]). Clinical characteristics, MELD-Na and mortality on the waiting list were recorded. Prediction of 3-month waiting list mortality was assessed by receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC-AUC). In order to explore potential mechanisms underlying the prognostic utility of vWF-Ag and CRP in this setting, we evaluated their association with PH, bacterial translocation, systemic inflammation, and circulatory dysfunction. In the exploration cohort (N=269) vWF-Ag and CRP both improved the predictive value of MELD-Na for 3-month waitlist mortality and showed the highest predictive value when combined (AUC: MELD-Na: 0.764, MELD-Na+CRP: 0.790, MELD-Na+vWF: 0.803, MELD-Na+CRP+vWF-Ag: 0.824). Results were confirmed in an independent validation cohort (N=129, AUC: MELD-Na: 0.677, MELD-Na+CRP+vWF-Ag: 0.882). vWF-Ag was independently associated with PH and inflammatory biomarkers, while CRP closely, and MELD-independently, correlated with biomarkers of bacterial translocation/inflammation. Conclusion: The addition of vWF-Ag and CRP -reflecting central pathophysiological mechanisms of PH, bacterial translocation and inflammation, that are all drivers of mortality on the waiting list for LT -to the MELD-Na score improves prediction of waitlist mortality. Using the vWFAg-CRP-MELD-Na model for prioritizing organ allocation may improve prediction of waitlist mortality and decrease waitlist mortality.