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Background The criteria for organ acceptance remain inconsistent, which limits the ability to standardize critical care practices. We sought to examine predictors of liver graft use and survival to better guide the selection and management of potential organ donors. Study Design A prospective observational study of all donors managed by the 8 organ procurement organizations in United Network for Organ Sharing Region 5 was conducted from July 2008 to March 2011. Critical care end points that reflect the normal hemodynamic, acid−base, respiratory, endocrine, and renal status of the donor were collected at 3 time points. Critical care and demographic data associated with liver transplantation and graft survival rates were first determined using univariate analyses, and then logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of these two outcomes. Results From 961 donors, 730 (76%) livers were transplanted and 694 (95%) were functioning after 74 ± 73 days of follow-up. After regression analysis, donor BMI (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94), male sex (OR = 1.89), glucose <150 mg/dL (OR = 1.97), lower dopamine dose (OR = 0.95), vasopressin use (OR = 1.95), and ejection fraction >50% (OR = 1.77) remained as independent predictors of liver use. Graft survival was associated with lower donor BMI (OR = 0.91) and sodium levels (OR = 0.95). Conclusions After controlling for donor age, sex, and BMI, both hemodynamic and endocrine critical care end points were associated with increased liver graft use. Both donor BMI and lower sodium levels during the course of donor management were independently predictive of improved graft survival. These results may help guide the management and selection of potential organ donors after neurologic determination of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Share 35 policy for liver allocation prioritizes patients with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores ≥ 35 for regional sharing of liver allografts. To better assess donor-recipient interactions and inform expectations, this study identified factors affecting graft survival independent of MELD score and derived a risk index for transplantation in the MELD ≥ 35 population.Study Design: The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) STAR database was evaluated for deceased donor liver transplants with recipients' MELD ≥ 35, between January 2006 and June 2016. Data were randomly split into test and validate cohorts. Four individual models of graft survival spanning 90 days to 5 years were evaluated with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses against donor- and recipient-specific characteristics. Significant factors were compiled to generate the Liver Transplant Survival Index (LTSI-35), and survival analyses were performed.Results: Five risk groups (very low, low, moderate, high, and severe) were identified, with 1-year graft survival rates of 90.8% ± 0.2%, 89.3% ± 0.3%, 85.0% ± 0.3%, 79.8% ± 0.3%, and 70.3% ± 0.4% (p < 0.001 across groups), respectively. The greatest risk of graft loss was associated with donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors (1-year hazard ratio [HR] = 1.61 [95% CI 1.26 to 2.05], p = 0.001), recipients' requiring ventilator support (HR 1.32 [95% CI 1.17 to 1.51], p < 0.001), and recipient portal vein thrombosis (HR 1.21 [95% CI 1.03 to 1.42], p = 0.003). Subgroup analysis revealed increased risk of graft loss with graft macrosteatosis ≥ 30% on pre-donation biopsy at 90 days (HR 1.64 [1.33 to 1.99], p < 0.001).Conclusions: The LTSI-35 identifies risk factors for graft loss in a high-MELD population which, when combined, may portend worse outcomes. The LTSI-35 may be used to influence donor selection, organ allocation, and to inform expectations for allograft survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]