Does Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score Predict the Short-Term Outcome of Living Donor Liver Transplantation?

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score for short-term outcomes after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).Patients and MethodsThe 135 consecutive patients who underwent LDLT did not include prisoners or their organs. Patients were divided into a low (group A; MELD score <15), a moderate (group B; MELD score ≥15 but <25), and a high MELD score (group C; MELD score ≥25) group according to their preoperative score. We retrospectively analyzed the data concerning complications, biochemical parameters, and survival over 90 postoperative days.ResultsComplications were similar among patients with a low, moderate, or high MELD score. The 90-day survival rates of group A, B, and C were 88%, 90%, and 90%, respectively (P = .960). Compared with groups A and B, group C showed a longer mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay.ConclusionPreoperative MELD score may not help to predict short-term outcomes of LDLT. However, a high MELD score may be related to a prolonged ICU stay.