Background: Public health service increased risk donor(IRD) and donation after cardiac death (DCD) livers are utilized to address the organ shortage in liver transplantation, particularly during the opioid epidemic. “Increased risk donor” terminology implies greater risk than DCD by its name, but without direct risk comparison.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the risks of accepting IRD livers compared to DCD livers during the opioid epidemic.

Methods: Retrospective, single center study of 92 recipients of IRD donors and 21 DCD donors(22% and 5% of adult transplants) between 1/2013-5/2017. Median post transplant follow-up was 2.6 years. The primary outcome was the composite of post-transplant risks likely to be greatest in IRD donor and DCD livers, namely, donor viral transmission (HBV, HCV, HIV) and ischemic cholangiopathy. Secondary outcomes were patient and graft survival, biopsy-proven rejection, CMV and EBV viremia. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi square and continuous variables Kruskal-Wallis techniques. Propensity score matched sensitivity analysis was conducted using logistic regression. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used for survival analyses.

Results: Ischemic cholangiopathy and graft failure leading to retransplantation occurred in 40% and 14% of DCD recipients but did not occur among IRD recipients(p<0.0001). There were no occurrences of HBV, HCV, HIV transmission. Survival was similar between DCD and IRD groups(90% vs 84% respectively, p=0.23).

Conclusion Despite its name, increased risk donors are less risky than DCD livers given lower rates of ischemic cholangiopathy and retransplantation, supporting the recent decision to rename this group of donors to encourage utilization.