Model for end-stage liver disease score predicts complications after liver transplantation

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Purpose: Increased model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score measured in the early postoperative course is associated with one-year mortality and graft loss. However, the correlation with postoperative complications has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between postoperative MELD score and subsequent complications. Methods: Adult liver transplant recipients transplanted from January 2011 until December 2016 were included. MELD score days 1–5 were correlated with complications day 6–30, subdivided into type and severity according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: We included 246 adult liver transplant recipients. Between days 6 and 30, 671 complications occurred in 201 of the patients (82%) corresponding to 64% of all postoperative complications in the whole postoperative period (days 0–30). In multivariate analyses adjusted for recipient gender and age, preoperative MELD score, and Eurotransplant Donor Risk Index, postoperative MELD score was significantly associated with having one or more complications, any type of complication except cardiovascular and renal complications, and complication severity. Conclusions: Postoperative MELD score days 1–5 were associated with complications arising in the subsequent period 6–30 days after transplantation. An increased MELD score should heighten the clinician’s awareness of a possible complication.

Original languageEnglish
JournalLangenbeck's Archives of Surgery
Volume406
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)55-65
Number of pages11
ISSN1435-2443
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

    Research areas

  • Clavien-Dindo, Complications, Liver transplantation, MELD score, Model for end-stage liver disease, Postoperative, Posttransplant

ID: 284412130