AN ANALYSIS OF LIVER TRANSPLANT EXPERIENCE FROM 37 TRANSPLANT CENTERS AS REPORTED TO MEDICARE

Abstract

Analysis of 5180 liver transplant cases from 37 liver transplant centers in the United States (1982–1991) shows an overall one-year survival rate of 79.4±0.6% and a five-year survival rate of 69.2±0.9%. There was marked improvement in the one-year survival rate after liver transplantation from 36.0±9.6% in 1982 to 85.0± 1.8% in 1991. One-year survival rates after liver transplantation for postnecrotic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, and Wilson's disease ranged from 78.4±1.0% to 84.2±1.5% and five-year survival rates from 68.6±3.8% to 79.2±5.3%. Survival rates after liver transplantation for hemochro-matosis were poor—a one-year survival rate of 53.8±6.8% and a five year survival rate of 43.1±11%. One-and five-year survival rates for the 0–13 years age group were 74.6±2.8% and 66.7±3.4%; for the 14–37 years age group, 83.3±1.2% and 73.8±1.8%; for the 38–54 years age group, 79.6±0.8% and 69.7±1.3%; for the 55–63 years age group, 76.0±1.4% and 63.0±3.1%; and for the 64–77 years age group, 76.5±3.0% and 65.4±4.6%.