2,611 Liver Transplants: Indications and Survival Rates of a High-Volume Latin American Center.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND
Objectives
The liver transplantation program at the Centro de Transplante de Fígado do Ceará (CTFC), one of the largest centers in Northern and Northeastern Brazil, was evaluated over a 23-year period to describe indications, recipient characteristics, and survival outcomes.
Materials And Methods
This retrospective cohort included 2611 liver transplants performed in 2491 patients between 2002 and 2025. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and laboratory data were collected from medical records and managed using REDCap. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.
Results
Most recipients were middle-aged men, predominantly from outside the state, and nearly all procedures were funded by the public health system. The main indications for transplantation were decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and alcohol-related liver disease, reflecting global epidemiological shifts. Overall survival rates were 88% at one month, 79% at one year, and 71% at 5 years, with progressive improvement over time. Donor characteristics and ischemia times were consistent with international standards.
Conclusions
These results show that a high-volume public transplant center can achieve outcomes comparable to major international programs while serving a socioeconomically diverse population.