Purpose: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) remains a life-threatening complication in liver transplantation. We aim to investigate the risk factors of HAT in deceased donor pediatric liver transplantation.
Methods: 104 recipients from 2014 to 2016 were enrolled; donor and recipient characteristics, surgical variables, graft and recipient survival rate were compared between recipients with or without HAT. Univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to identify the risk factors of HAT.
Results: The recipient survival rate was 87.0% and 96.3% at 1 year, and 87.0% and 96.3% at 3 years in HAT and non-HAT groups without significant difference. The graft survival rate was 73.9% and 96.3% at 1 year, and 73.9% and 95.1% at 3 years in HAT and non-HAT groups; significant difference was observed between two groups at both 1 and 3 years. Donor age less than 8.5 months, graft weight less than 190 g and GRWR less than 2.2% were identified as independent risk factors for HAT. Recipients with HAT were associated with higher incidence of post-operative biliary complications.
Conclusions: Young donor age and small liver graft are risk factors for HAT in deceased donor pediatric liver transplantation.
Keywords: Acute rejection; Hepatic artery thrombosis; Pediatric liver transplantation; Recipient survival.