As OPTN has admitted, organs from deceased donors over the age of 50 are often discarded despite being viable. A recent study compared patient and graft (transplanted organ) survival rates in liver transplant recipients given livers from deceased donors younger than 60, 60-70 years of age, and older than 70 years old.
Summary results are as follows:
| Patient survival | 1-year | 3 year | 5-year |
| <60yoa (n=226) | 81% | 76.1% | 71% |
| 60-70yoa (n=75) | 83.8% | 74% | 72.2% |
| >70yoa (n=25) | 76% | 70% | 64.1% |
| Graft Survival | 1-year | 3-year | 5 year |
| <60yoa (n=226) | 74.8% | 69% | 64.1% |
| 60-70yoa (n=75) | 82.7% | 71.4% | 69.6% |
| >70yoa (n=25) | 71.4% | 64.8% | 58.3% |
Conclusion;
Because patient and graft survival rates are not affected by donor age, well-selected older donor livers can be safely used if they show good function and preharvesting conditions.
Read full abstract here: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-013-2085-7