How do the outcomes of liver transplant patients with opioid use disorders on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) differ from those patients without opioid use disorder?
The answer is C. A study of 10 patients receiving MMT vs. a matched control group of 19 patients not on opioids/MMT revealed that the MMT patients required significantly more intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. Follow-up times were similar between groups. 20% of patients receiving MMT used alcohol or illicit drugs post-transplant. The study concluded that current data do not support withholding liver transplant from MMT patients, but that larger follow-up studies are required.
Publication reference : Weinrieb RM et al. A matched comparison study of medical and psychiatric complications and anesthesia and analgesia requirements in methadone-maintained liver transplant recipients. Liver Transpl 2004; 10: 97-106 Reference URL:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14755785/