LAUSR

BACKGROUND Up to 77% of liver transplantation candidates experience pain, and the majority are prescribed opioids. Previous studies have shown increased readmissions and mortality in liver transplant recipients who were prescribed opioids before transplantation. Our aim was to identify specific populations that are at the highest risk for deleterious outcomes with opioid use before transplantation. STUDY DESIGN This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of adult receiving liver transplants between 2010 and 2016 to assess the impact of pretransplantation opioid use on mortality and graft loss after liver transplantation. RESULTS A total of 446 liver transplant recipients were included in the study, 148 (33%) of which were identified as pretransplantation opioid users. Opioid use increased significantly during the course of the study. There were no differences in the overall cohort between opioid users and non-opioid users with regard to graft or patient outcomes. However, the influence of opioid use on outcomes varied based on Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and functional status. In patients with any MELD exception, opioid use was an independent predictor of time to graft loss or death (adjusted hazard ratio 2.36; 95% CI 1.05 to 5.28; p = 0.037). It also independently predicted time to graft loss or death in patients with low laboratory MELD scores (adjusted hazard ratio 2.38; 95% CI 1.10 to 5.13; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS In our 6-year retrospective cohort, pretransplantation opioid use based on medication reconciliation was independently associated with time to graft loss or mortality in liver transplant recipients with MELD exceptions and laboratory MELD scores ≤15.