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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Aug 1;110(8):5022-5033.
doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001419.

Older living liver donors can enlarge the donor pool: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hayo W Ter Burg  1 , Alicia J Chorley Rn  1 , Wojciech G Polak  1 , Leonieke W Kranenburg  2 , Markus U Boehnert  3 , Robert C Minnee  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Older living liver donors can enlarge the donor pool: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hayo W Ter Burg et al. Int J Surg. .

Abstract

Background: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is the best option for end-stage liver disease patients. Older potential donors are increasingly requesting donation. This study aims to systematically assess the differences in donor perioperative and postoperative complications, mortality, and quality of life (QoL) between younger and older living liver donors.

Materials and methods: Embase, Medline, and Cochrane were searched for studies published between 2002 and 2 June 2023. Donor complications, major complications, biliary complications, mortality, and QoL were systematically reviewed, including meta-analyses. Donors aged >50 years were considered older. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment Scale.

Results: The search yielded 8320 studies, of which 17 were included. The risk ratio (RR) for complications in younger donors was 1.08 [0.90-1.31] ( P =0.41). RRs for major complications in younger donors were 0.98 [0.64, 1.48] and 0.89 [0.50, 1.57] using Clavien-Dindo ≥III and ≥IIIb as major complication. RR for biliary complications in younger donors was 1.59 [1.05-2.42] ( P =0.03). Mortality rate in younger donors was 47/13 238 (0.4%) and in older donors 13/989 (1.3%). Physical component summary (PCS) in younger donors was 51.87 and in older donors 51.29. Mental component summary (MCS) in younger donors was 52.93 and in older donors 55.40.

Conclusion: Older donors do not have a higher complication or mortality rate than younger donors after LDLT. They may have a lower rate of biliary complications. Additionally, older donors have a similar QoL after LDLT. With careful selection, older donors can be included in screening programs for living liver donation to expand the donor pool.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for new systematic reviews which included searches of databases and registers only.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot for donor complications in younger and older living liver donors.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plots for major donor complications in younger and older living liver donors using Clavien–Dindo ≥III (A) and Clavien–Dindo ≥IIIb (B) as a major complication.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot for donor biliary complications in younger and older living liver donors.
None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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