Simultaneous split liver/kidney transplantation: A national and single center experience report

Background: End-stage liver disease (ESLD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are prevalent diseases for which the definitive treatment is transplantation. With limited organ supply, strategies to maximize organ availability has led to increasing rates of split liver transplantations for ESLD patients. Therefore, simultaneous split liver and kidney transplantations (SSLK) for patients with ESLD and ESRD could represent a treatment option for comorbid patients. However, current practice and outcomes after SSLK are unknown.

Methods: We aim to report national trends and our experience with patients undergoing SSLK. We performed a retrospective review of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Standard Transplant Analysis and Research file from January 2011-April 2022. Descriptive analysis of preoperative characteristics, postoperative outcomes and actuarial graft and patient survivals are reported.

Results: National review of the UNOS transplant registry from 2011-2021 of adult patients undergoing initial transplantation via SSLK demonstrates that this procedure remains uncommon, with only 76 such cases captured in that time. Nevertheless, survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years remains robust, at 94%, 92%, and 90% for patients overall, 90%, 88%, 88%, for the liver graft, and 93%, 91%, 88% for the kidney graft, respectively. Review of a single center experience with three such patients from 2019-2021 has shown a safe, enduring transplant option with no graft complications seen.

Conclusions: SSLK is both safe and a feasible option to optimize organ supply while allowing recipients to receive quality liver and kidney grafts and should be considered more often by transplant centers going forward.