Listing practices for morbidly obese patients at liver transplantation centers in the United States

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The effect of morbid obesity on liver transplant outcomes has yielded mixed results. The aim of this study was to determine listing practices for morbidly obese patients at liver transplant centers in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 19-item survey was created to assess liver transplant evaluation and listing practices for morbidly obese patients. All adult liver transplant medical and surgical directors in the United States were contacted by e-mail, which provided an Internet link to an online survey. RESULTS: We sent a total of 187 surveys by e-mail, with responses received from 46 physicians (24.7% response rate). A policy on evaluation and listing of obese patients was present at 70.5% of institutions, with most (54.5%) reporting that their body mass index cutoff for transplant was 40 kg/m2, but a range of 35 kg/m2 to unlimited was noted. Most respondents agreed that patients with high body mass index were less likely to be evaluated for transplant. Respondents reported increased complication rates among obese patients, with the most common being poor wound healing and increased infection rates. CONCLUSIONS: Most medical and surgical liver transplant directors have a strong appreciation of the possible morbidity risks associated with performing liver transplants in morbidly obese patients and have policies in effect to minimize these risks.