The long term effects of smoking tobacco have been widely reported, from cardiovascular disease, to pulmonary complications and cancer, the effect of Marijuana has not been so thoroughly researched and many transplant centers still lack regulations to evaluate the potential recipients who consume it. Aim of this study is to retrospectively review and analyze liver transplant recipients who smoke tobacco and compare them to marijuana smokers.

Methods we retrospectively analyzed 339 adult patients transplanted between 2007 and 2017 in a single center. All the patients that received multi organ transplants and retransplants were excluded. We evaluated all liver transplant recipients and divided them into three groups non smokers (group 1) tobacco smokers (group 2) marijuana smokers (group 3). We evaluated time to extubation, respiratory complications, SICU length of stay, hospital length of stay and survival.

Results: We had 175 patients in group 1, 115 patients in group 2 and 49 patients in group 3. 1 year survival was 93% (162), 88% (101) and 94% (46) in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. 3 year survival was 80% (140), 70% (80), 88% (43) in group 1, 2 and 3 respectiveley and 5 year was 72% (126); 61% (70) and 78% (38). The survival difference was significantly better for marijuana smokers compared to tobacco smokers (P = 0.001) and was significantly inferior for tobacco smokers compared to non smokers (p<0.05). Respiratory complications, ICU stay, time to extubation and length of stay were not different amongst the groups. In conclusion marijuana smokers do not have adverse outcomes after liver transplant. Tobacco smoking is in fact detrimental for the long term outcomes. Due to the legality of marijuana in many states within the USA for consideration of transplant candidacy such studies are warranted.

CITATION INFORMATION: Serrano Rodriguez P., Watkins R., Jurgevich L., Gerber D., Nayyar A., Jadi J., Moses C., Desai C. Comparison of Tobacco Consumption versus Marijuana Consumption in Liver Transplant Recipients Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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