Analyzing Institutional Liver Transplantation Outcomes

Clinical teams are continuously refining liver transplantation outcomes through institutional expertise and technological adoption. A recent study at Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital in South Korea analyzed 56 cases from January 2023 to July 2025. Furthermore, researchers categorized the procedures into 29 living donor (LDLT) and 27 deceased donor (DDLT) types. Specifically, the team documented primary diagnoses, MELD scores, and surgical details to evaluate program progress. Moreover, patients with alcoholic or hepatitis B-related cirrhosis comprised the majority of the cohort. Consequently, the data revealed that DDLT recipients generally exhibited higher MELD scores than LDLT recipients. Therefore, surgeons must navigate higher medical urgency in deceased donor cases while maintaining graft safety.

Improving Liver Transplantation Outcomes through Expertise

The hospital observed significant surgical improvements over the two-and-a-half-year period. Specifically, the average recipient operative time decreased from 429 minutes to 360 minutes. Similarly, the adoption of laparoscopic donor hepatectomy reflects a growing shift toward minimally invasive surgery. However, eight donors required conversion to open surgery during the study period. Additionally, survival to discharge reached 90.5% in 2025, marking a significant institutional milestone compared to earlier rates. Thus, cumulative surgical experience and optimized management are key drivers of success. Nevertheless, infectious complications like bacterial pneumonia remain a challenge. Consequently, multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for optimizing liver transplantation outcomes and long-term recovery.

Which cirrhosis types were most common in the study?

The research identified alcoholic cirrhosis (39.3%) and hepatitis B-related cirrhosis (26.8%) as the primary indications for transplantation in this cohort. These conditions represent the leading causes of end-stage liver disease in the analyzed population.

How did operative efficiency change over the study period?

The average recipient operative time decreased significantly from 429 minutes in the early phase to 360 minutes in 2025. This improvement reflects enhanced surgical proficiency and more streamlined perioperative processes at the institution.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Refer to the latest local and national guidelines for clinical practice.

References

Budiman D et al. Evolving trends and outcomes in living and deceased donor liver transplantation: institutional experience from Changwon Hanmaeum Hospital (2023-2025). Clin Transplant Res. 2026 May 22. doi: 10.4285/ctr.25.0070. PMID: 42168769.

Kim J et al. Superior survival outcomes of living donor liver transplantation in Korea: A large-scale national comparison. Asian Transplant Week 2025 proceedings.

Lee SG et al. Global dissemination of minimally invasive donor hepatectomy and surgical barriers. Transplantation. 2025 Nov 1;109(11):1754-1764.