Potential impact of in situ liver splitting on the number of available grafts

Background. The potential increase in the number of liver grafts gained from systematically using the technique of splitting optimal organs is still unknown. This study investigates the proportion of donors that should be considered for in situ split-liver harvesting according to strict criteria on which a consensus could be reached easily. Methods. The records of 407 consecutive donors during a 4-year period in Switzerland were analyzed. Nonheart-beating donors and donors with missing data were excluded, leaving 338 donors as the study population. Liver splitting was considered feasible when the following criteria were met: agegreater than or equal to14 and less than or equal to50 years; weightgreater than or equal to45 kg; body mass index:less than or equal to26 kg/m(2); intensive care stayless than or equal to3 days; mean arterial pressuregreater than or equal to60 mm Hg; Naless than or equal to160 mmol/L; serum glutamic pyruvic transaminaseless than or equal to60 U/L; gamma-glutamyl transpeptidasegreater than or equal to50 U/L; no steatosis at ultrasonography. Organs from donorsgreater than or equal to70 kg were considered suitable for a split, producing organs for two adults. Results. Fifty-two (15%) donors fulfilled all the conditions for a split-liver procedure, of whom 29 (8.6%) were donors for 2 adults. The number of donors suitable for splitting increased to 145 (43%) if donors with only one missing criterion were included (77 [23%] for 2 adults). Conclusion. Even if the technique is restricted to optimal donors, splitting could appreciably increase the number of liver grafts. A wider use of the technique could reduce the patient's time on the waiting list and the need for living-donor procedures, and should be encouraged.