OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) allocation policy on survival outcomes after liver transplantation (LT). INTRODUCTION: Considering that an ideal system of grafts allocation should also ensure improved survival after transplantation, changes in allocation policies need to be evaluated in different contexts as an evolutionary process. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out among patients who underwent LT at the University of Pernambuco. Two groups of patients transplanted before and after the MELD allocation policy implementation were identified and compared using early postoperative mortality and post-LT survival as end-points. RESULTS: Overall, early postoperative mortality did not significantly differ between cohorts (16.43% vs. 8.14%; p = 0.112). Although at 6 and 36-months the difference between pre-vs. post-MELD survival was only marginally significant (p = 0.066 and p = 0.063; respectively), better short, medium and long-term post-LT survival were observed in the post-MELD period. Subgroups analysis showed special benefits to patients categorized as nonhepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) and moderate risk, as determined by MELD score (15-20). DISCUSSION: This study ensured a more robust estimate of how the MELD policy affected post-LT survival outcomes in Brazil and was the first to show significantly better survival after this new policy was implemented. Additionally, we explored some potential reasons for our divergent survival outcomes. CONCLUSION: Better survival outcomes were observed in this study after implementation of the MELD criterion, particularly amongst patients categorized as non-HCC and moderate risk by MELD scoring. Governmental involvement in organ transplantation was possibly the main reason for improved survival.

O transplante hepático tornou-se o procedimento de escolha para o tratamento da doença hepática terminal. Não obstante o sucesso da cirurgia, a disfunção pós-operatória do fígado enxertado ainda representa importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade. O restabelecimento do fluxo sangüíneo ao fígado recém transplantado impõe a ele nova agressão, agravando a lesão causada pelo período de isquemia. Este fenômeno pouco compreendido é conhecido como lesão por isquemia e reperfusão e envolve disfunção endotelial, seqüestro de leucócitos e agregação de plaquetas, lesão por radicais livre de oxigênio, e distúrbios da microcirculação hepática. Essa revisão discute os vários aspectos fisiopatológicos que estão envolvidos na lesão por isquemia e reperfusão do fígado.

Hepatic transplantation has become the main treatment for patients with terminal hepatic disease. Whatever the success of such surgery, the hepatic dysfunction associated with liver transplantation is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Paradoxically, on restoring the blood supply, the liver is subjected to a further insult, aggravating the injury already caused by ischemia. This complex phenomenon is termed ischemia-reperfusion injury and involves endothelial cell dysfunction, leukocyte entrapment, platelet aggregation, oxidant stress and hepatic microcirculatory perfusion failure. This review discusses the physiopathlogicals mechanisms of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury.