Key result
Severely obese patients should be considered potential candidates for liver transplantation and prioritized, as recent studies show higher waiting list mortality rather than worse post-transplant outcomes.
Severe obesity should not be considered an absolute contraindication for liver transplantation, as recent studies suggest it is associated with higher waitlist mortality rather than worse post-transplant outcomes.
. Obesity is a common and serious health issue worldwide. Its incidence has been rapidly and continuously increasing. Obesity causes extensive and heterogeneous comorbidities affecting nearly all organs, including the liver. Severe obesity (SO) has historically been considered a contraindication for liver transplantation due to the increased risk of perioperative complications, mortality, and graft failure. However, recent studies have shown that SO is not associated with worse post-transplant outcomes but rather with higher waiting list mortality. Therefore, severely obese patients should be considered potential candidates and, conversely, prioritized.
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Baggio et al. (2026) conducted a letter in Severe obesity and liver transplantation. Liver transplantation was evaluated. Severely obese patients should be considered potential candidates for liver transplantation and prioritized, as recent studies show higher waiting list mortality rather than worse post-transplant outcomes.
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