A national mandatory-split liver policy: A report from the Italian experience

To implement split liver transplantation (SLT) a mandatory-split policy has been adopted in Italy since August 2015: donors aged 18-50 years at standard risk are offered for SLT, resulting in a left-lateral segment (LLS) graft for children and an extended-right graft (ERG) for adults. We aim to analyze the impact of the new mandatory-split policy on liver transplantation (LT)-waiting list and SLT outcomes, compared to old allocation policy. Between August 2015 and December 2016 out of 413 potentially “splittable” donors, 252 (61%) were proposed for SLT, of whom 53 (21%) donors were accepted for SLT whereas 101 (40.1%) were excluded because of donor characteristics and 98 (38.9%) for absence of suitable pediatric recipients. The SLT rate augmented from 6% to 8.4%. Children undergoing SLT increased from 49.3% to 65.8% (P =.009) and the pediatric LT-waiting list time dropped (229 [10-2121] vs 80 [12-2503] days [P =.045]). The pediatric (4.5% vs 2.5% [P =.398]) and adult (9.7% to 5.2% [P <.001]) LT-waiting list mortality reduced; SLT outcomes remained stable. Retransplantation (HR = 2.641, P =.035) and recipient weight >20 kg (HR = 5.113, P =.048) in LLS, and ischemic time >8 hours (HR = 2.475, P =.048) in ERG were identified as predictors of graft failure. A national mandatory-split policy maximizes the SLT donor resources, whose selection criteria can be safely expanded, providing favorable impact on the pediatric LT-waiting list and priority for adult sick LT candidates.