Oil Red O Is a Useful Tool to Assess Donor Liver Steatosis on Frozen Sections During Transplantation

Oil Red O is a useful tool to assess donor liver steatosis on frozen sections during transplantation. Steatosis is a frequent finding in liver evaluation during transplantation, accounting for 9% to 26% of biopsied donor liver. The degree of macrovesicular steatosis is classified as mild, moderate, and severe; the latter is considered an absolute contraindication to liver transplantation because it is associated with poor allograft outcome. Because of the scarcity of organs, there is a debate whether livers with less severe macrovesicular steatosis are still suitable for transplant. Consequently, tools or methods that allow a more accurate intraoperative assessment of steatosis on frozen sections are mandatory. The aim of this study is to improve intraoperative evaluation of steatosis during transplantation using Oil Red O stain on liver biopsies.