• Rodrigo Wolff, Luis Antonio Díaz, Blanca Norero, Álvaro Urzúa, Gabriel Mezzano, Roberto Humeres, Franco Innocenti, Lorena Castro, Claudia Pavez, Carlos Derosas, and Susana Elgueta.
• Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
• Rev Med Chil. 2020 Nov 1; 148 (11): 1541-1549.

BackgroundIn Chile, organ allocation for liver transplantation (LT) in adults is prioritized according to the MELD-Na score. Exceptions such as Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and other non-HCC exceptions receive a score called Operational MELD score.AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of the MELD-Na score and the operational MELD score as a prioritization system for LT in Chile.Material And MethodsRetrospective analysis of the waiting list (WL) of adult candidates (≥ 15 years) for elective LT in Chile from 2011 to 2017. The probability of leaving the WL, defined by death or contraindication for LT was compared in three groups: 1) Cirrhotic patients prioritized according to their real MELD-Na score (CPM), 2) HCC and 3) other non-HCC exceptions.ResultsWe analyzed 730 candidates for LT, with a median age of 57 years, 431 (56%) were men. In the study period, 352 LT were performed (48%). The annual exit rate was significantly higher in the CPM group (45.5%) compared to HCC (33.1%) and non-HCC (29.3%), (p < 0.001). Post LT survival was 86% at 1 year and 85% at 5 years, without significant differences between groups. In the CPM group, post-transplant survival was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in patients with MELD-Na ≥ 30 at transplant (81% per year) compared to patients with patients with MELD-Na < 30 (91% per year).ConclusionsMELD-Na score can discriminate very well patients who have a higher risk of death in the short and medium term. However, the assignment of operational scores for situations of exception produces inequities in the allocation of organs for LT and must therefore be carefully adjusted.

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