Outcomes of simultaneous liver transplantation and elective cardiac surgical procedures

Background: Many centers are reticent to list patients for liver transplantation until coexistent cardiac disease is surgically corrected. Previous studies have documented considerable morbidity and mortality in liver failure patients undergoing cardiac operations. This study examined whether elective cardiac operations at the time of hepatic transplantation would yield enhanced outcomes.

Methods: Between July 1999 and June 2010, 10 patients underwent simultaneous liver transplantation and elective cardiac operations at a single institution. Postoperative outcomes were analyzed using a prospectively maintained database.

Results: The 10 patients were men (mean age, 59.8 ± 8.3 years): 7 were in Child-Pugh class B and 3 were in class C. Mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 17.0 ± 5.8. Cardiac operations included coronary artery bypass grafting in 1, aortic valve replacement in 4, coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement in 3, coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve repair in 1, and tricuspid valve repair in 1. In-hospital mortality was 20%. Mean postoperative length of stay was 23 ± 8 days. Actuarial survival at 3 years was 70%.

Conclusions: Survival was modestly improved relative to that observed in previous studies of advanced liver failure patients undergoing heart operations without concomitant hepatic replacement. Moreover, the medium-term survival outcomes approach those documented with liver transplant alone. Further studies are warranted with this combined surgical strategy to determine if such an approach would be routinely preferable to staged repair of cardiac pathology and liver transplant.