PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

Model for establishing a new liver transplantation center through mentorship from a university with transplantation expertise.

  • Rafael Soares Pinheiro,
  • Wellington Andraus,
  • Fernando Gomes Romeiro,
  • Rodrigo Bronze de Martino,
  • Liliana Ducatti,
  • Rubens Macedo Arantes,
  • Leonardo Pelafsky,
  • Claudia Nishida Hasimoto,
  • Fabio da Silva Yamashiro,
  • Lucas Souto Nacif,
  • Luciana Bertocco de Paiva Haddad,
  • Vinicius Rocha Santos,
  • Daniel Reis Waisberg,
  • Matheus Fachini Vane,
  • Joel Avancini Rocha-Filho,
  • Walmar Kerche de Oliveira,
  • Luiz Augusto Carneiro-D'Albuquerque

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266361
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 3
p. e0266361

Abstract

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BackgroundSetting up new liver transplant (LT) centers is essential for countries with organ shortages. However, good outcomes require experience, because LT learning depends on a high number of surgeries. This study aims to describe how a new center was set up from a partnership between the new center and an experienced one. The step-by-step preparation process, the time needed and the results of the new center are depicted.Material and methodsThe mentoring process lasted 40 months, in which half of the 52 patients included on the transplant list received LT. After the mentorship, a 22-month period was also analyzed, in which 46 new patients were added to the waiting list and nine were operated on.ResultsThe 30-day survival rates during (92.3%) and after (66.7%) the partnership were similar to the other LT centers in the same region, as well as the rates of longer periods. The waiting time on the LT list, the characteristics of the donors and the ischemia times did not differ during or after the mentorship.ConclusionThe partnership between universities is a suitable way to set up LT centers, achieving good results for the institutions and the patients involved.