Mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation

An analysis was made of the causes of death in 22 of 50 patients receiving consecutive orthotopic liver transplants. A close look at the fatal course of these patients revealed three major patterns: surgical complications (27%), pathology of the hepatic artery anastomosis (23%), and cholestasis (32%). Technical factors were the major reasons for excessive peroperative blood loss, and not the coagulopathy accompanying the liver disease. The etiology of hepatic artery thrombosis is not known. It leads to irreversible damage of the graft, causing death due to acute hepatic failure or to cholangitis and sepsis. The only way to treat patients with this complication is retransplantation. Several factors can induce cholestasis. Retrospectively, it appears that this was mostly due to inappropriate immunosuppression, often a result of the difficult differential diagnosis between rejection and viral infection. Recognition of these three basic patterns should enable us to anticipate their subsequent complications. This may lead to a reduction in morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation.     

Early complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

The cost and impact of early post-transplant complications continue to be high. Diagnosis and management involves a high index of suspicion, rapid diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and elimination of technical problems. Preoperative assessment of the donor and recipient medical condition and meticulous attention to detail during the technical performance of OLTx are the mainstays in achieving a good outcome.     

Venous complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

We report venous complications, including portal vein and hepatic vein stenoses, that required interventional radiological treatment in three pediatric and two adult living related liver transplant recipients. Between April 2001 and April 2005, 81 liver transplantations were performed at our hospital. Sixty-two grafts were from living donors. During follow-up, three portal vein stenoses were identified in three pediatric recipients, and two hepatic vein stenoses in two adult patients. In the children, two had received left lateral segment grafts, and one had received a right lobe graft from two mothers and one father, respectively. The etiologies of liver failure were Alagille syndrome, biliary atresia, and fulminant Wilson's disease. Portal vein stenoses were identified at 8, 11, and 12 months after transplantation; all three patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic portal venous angioplasty with a success rate of 100%. The mean follow-up was 102 days; no recurrence has occurred. In contrast, hepatic venous stenoses were diagnosed in two adult recipients. One of them was a 24-year-old woman with autoimmune hepatitis and the other a 43-year-old man with cryptogenic cirrhosis. Hepatic vein stenoses were diagnosed at 3 and 4 months after transplantation. Both hepatic vein stenoses were dilated with balloon angioplasties via the transjugular route. Venous complications identified by Doppler ultrasonography were confirmed by computerized tomographic angiography. Angioplasty represents an effective and safe alternative to reconstructive surgery in the treatment of venous complications after liver transplantation.     

肝移植术后的肺部并发症

肝移植术后肺部并发症的发生率非常高,包括肺不张、胸腔积液、肺水肿、肺部感染和急性呼吸衰竭等,严重影响病人的预后.引起肝移植术后肺部并发症的因素很多,主要包括手术操作、感染、循环容量超负荷、输血相关的急性肺损伤、缺血/再灌注、呼吸机相关性肺损伤、肝肺综合征和门肺高压症等因素,以此为依据,现提出了具体的防治措施,包括完善的术前准备、防止容量超负荷、合理输血和血制品,调节凝血功能,注意预防输血相关的急性肺损伤(transtnsion related acutte lung injury,TRALL)、合理应用抑肽酶、减轻缺血/再灌注损伤(ischemia-reperfusion injury,L/R)和全身炎症反应、防治肺动脉高压、合理的呼吸机通气管理等,希望有助于肝移植术后肺部并发症的防治,促进肝移植病人预后.     

Tacrolimus-associated mutism after orthotopic liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Mutism/speech apraxia has been well documented as a toxic effect of cyclosporine after liver transplantation but has been reported only rarely with tacrolimus. Brain imaging with magnetic resonance or computed tomography has failed to demonstrate abnormalities in affected patients. METHODS: We present the first example of an acute onset of loss of speech associated with a sudden elevation of serum tacrolimus level after successful orthotopic liver transplantation. We also describe the positron emission tomography (PET) scan of this patient's brain. RESULTS: PET scan imaging of the brain was abnormal, demonstrating decreased metabolism in the posterior temporo-parieto-occipital regions. Statistical probability mapping revealed additional areas of hypometabolism in the cingulate gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: PET scan revealed abnormalities of the brain in a patient with tacrolimus-induced mutism. The cingulate gyrus may play a role in the mutism/speech apraxia syndrome seen with cyclosporine/tacrolimus neurotoxicity.     

Venous complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

Complications involving the portal vein or the vena cava, are rare after orthotopic liver transplantation. We report on the incidence and treatment of venous complications following 1000 orthotopic liver transplantations in 911 patients. Twenty-six of the adult patients (2.7%) suffered from portal complications after transplantation, whereas complications of the vena cava were observed in only 17 patients (1.8%). Technical problems or recurrence of the underlying disease (e.g. Budd-Chiari syndrome) accounted for the majority of complications of the vena cava, whereas alteration of the vessel wall or splenectomy during transplantation could be identified as important risk factors for portal vein complications. In patients undergoing modification of the standard end-to-end veno-venous anastomosis of the portal vein due to pathological changes of the vessel wall, complications occurred in 8.3%, whereas only 2.4% of patients who received a standard anastomosis of the portal vein experienced complications of the portal vein. Furthermore, splenectomy during transplantation was also associated with an increased incidence of portal vein complications (10.5 vs. 2.2% in patients without splenectomy). Treatment was dependent on the signs and symptoms of the patients, and varied considerably between patients with portal vein complications and patients suffering from complications of the vena cava. Complications of the vena cava led to retransplantation in about one-third of the patients, whereas in patients with occlusion of the portal vein, retransplantation was necessary in only 15%, and more than half of the patients suffering from portal vein complications did not require any treatment at all. Usually, treatment of patients with portal vein complications only became necessary when additional complications such as arterial occlusion or bile duct injuries occurred.     

Vascular complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

Over a 57-month period, we performed 430 orthotopic liver transplants in 372 patients. A total of 38 vascular complications were identified including hepatic artery thrombosis (n = 24), portal vein thrombosis (n = 6), combined hepatic artery thrombosis/portal vein thrombosis (n = 3), and hepatic artery rupture (n = 5). A number of potential risk factors for the development of vascular thrombosis were evaluated with only children, weight less than 10 kg, and cold ischemia time found to be significant. The clinical presentation included fulminant hepatic failure, allograft dysfunction, biliary sepsis, and screening ultrasound. Duplex ultrasonography was diagnostic in nearly all cases. Therapeutic modalities included revascularization, revascularization followed by retransplantation, retransplantation alone, and observation. Five cases of hepatic artery rupture occurred in four patients. Infectious arteritis was present in four patients. The 6-month actuarial survival in patients with vascular complications was 70%. Early diagnosis is critical for graft salvage, with surgical intervention the mainstay of therapy.     

原位肝移植术后并发曲霉菌感染的诊断和治疗

目的 探讨原位肝移植术后并发曲霉菌感染的诊断和治疗措施. 方法对2000年1月至2006年12月中山大学附属第一医院施行的776例同种原位肝移植患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,总结原位肝移植术后发生曲霉菌感染的诊治经过.结果 本组患者发生曲霉菌感染13例,感染发生率为1.68%(13/776);其中肺部感染7例,肝脏感染2例,颅内感染1例,多器官感染3例.两性霉素B脂质体是治疗肝移植术后曲霉菌感染的主要药物,对早期病例疗效满意.因曲霉菌感染死亡7例,病死率为53.8%(7/13).结论 防治肝移植术后曲霉菌感染的关键是做好早期诊断,及时治疗.抗真菌治疗应该清除病灶、调整免疫抑制剂及选用敏感抗真菌药物;抗真菌药物的使用应该早期、足量、全程用药.     

Laparoscopic surgery after orthotopic liver transplantation

Laparoscopic surgery is currently a widely accepted approach to several surgical fields because of its advantages in terms of postoperative pain reduction and easy patient recovery. This approach may be useful even in solid-organ transplantation surgery as a diagnostic or treatment procedure in some surgical complications. From July 1991 to December 1998, we performed 142 liver transplantations on 129 patients. During the postoperative period, many complications occurred. Here we report two cases of intestinal occlusion caused by adhesions and three cases of lymphocele, all approached with laparoscopic surgery. In all cases but one, we were able to complete the surgery by laparoscopic means; in one of the two occlusions, the procedure was switched to laparotomy because of a choledochojejunal anastomosis lesion. The three cases of lymphocele must be considered in a particular manner because such cases, to our knowledge, have never been described in the literature. They always presented with a late-onset right pleural effusion and were located in the retrohepatic, retrogastric, and left paracaval areas, close to the esophageal hiatus. In conclusion, we believe a laparoscopic approach is a useful strategy to solve some surgical complications in patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation; however, the use of laparoscopic surgery in this field is strictly connected to the surgeon's experience and versatility.     

原位肝移植术后早期肝功能不全的相关危险因素分析

目的分析原位肝移植术后早期肝功能不全(early allograft dysfunction,EAD)的发生情况,并探讨EAD发生的相关危险因素。方法回顾性分析武汉大学人民医院2016年1月至2020年12月实施的74例原位肝移植病人的临床资料,对可能导致术后EAD的围手术期相关因素进行单因素分析,然后将有显著性差异的因素纳入Logistic回归多因素分析。结果74例肝移植病人术后EAD的发生率为36.5%(27/74)。单因素分析结果显示,受者术前中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(NLR)、术前血清总胆红素、术中失血量、术前肝功能Child-Pugh分级C级、术前终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分≥18分及术后出现胆道及血管并发症是EAD发生的潜在危险因素(均P<0.05);多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,肝移植术后EAD的独立危险因素为:术前MELD评分≥18分[OR=0.045,95%CI(0.003,0.605),P=0.045];移植术后出现胆道及血管并发症[OR=0.061,95%CI(0.009.0.419),P=0.004]。结论术前MELD评分≥18分及术后出现胆道及血管并发症是影响肝移植术后EAD的独立危险因素。临床上应该通过改善受者术前较差的肝功能和提高临床医师手术技巧来降低EAD的发生率。     

影响肝移植术后早期预后的相关危险因素分析

目的探讨影响肝移植术后早期预后的相关的危险因素。方法回顾性的分析了我院自2003年1月1日至2003年10月31日的原位肝移植病例171例。根据术后早期预后分为预后不良组及非预后不良组（术后早期住院期间死亡者或因各种并发症术后〉7d转出ICU者定为预后不良的病人），比较两组病人术前及术中的变量13项；并筛选出影响预后的一些变量。结果171例病人中，预后不良者30人（17．5％），其中围手术期死亡12人（7％）；应用单因素分析比较预后不良及非预后不良病人的各项指标，以下参数均具有显著性差异：Child分级、APACHEⅢ评分、UNOS分级、手术时间、出血量、输血及血浆量、术前cr水平、术前ICU、术前感染及再次手术干预。将预后作为因变量进行Logistic回归分析，筛选影响预后的危险因素，保留在回归方程中的变量有：APACHEⅢ评分、术前感染、手术时间、术中出血和输血量。而病人年龄、CHILD分级、UNOS分级、无肝期、术前Cr、术前ICU停留、再次手术干预被剔除方程。结论通过对肝移植病人术前及术中一些指标的评估，可以在一定程度上预测术后早期的预后。     

Loss of speech after orthotopic liver transplantation

Alteration of speech is a rare but distressing complication of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We describe a characteristic speech disorder identified in a large series of consecutive patients undergoing OLT. Between 1988 and 1993, 525 adults underwent OLT. For all recipients with neurologic complications, we reviewed clinical findings, imaging and electrophysiologic test results, and perioperative laboratory data. Five patients (ages 23–52; UNOS status 3–4) exhibited a characteristic pattern of stuttering dysarthria, leading to complete loss of speech production, occasionally with elements of aphasia. In four of the five patients, right-sided focal seizures were subsequently noted. All cases presented within the first 10 postoperative days and improved within 1 month of cessation of cyclosporin (CyA), although halting, monotonous speech was evident to some degree in all five for up to 1 year. There was no correlation between onset of symptoms and CyA levels. None of the patients had clinical or radiologic findings suggestive of central pontine myelinolysis or akinetic mutism. EEGs and Spect scan results were consistent with dysfunction in the left frontotemporoparietal regions of the brain. A characteristic speech disorder, which may be described as cortical dysarthria or speech apraxia, occurs in approximately 1% of adults undergoing OLT. Prompt recognition of this syndrome and temporary cessation of CyA therapy may favorably affect the course.     

Intrahepatic biliary lesions after orthotopic liver transplantation

Intrahepatic biliary lesions (IBL) are rare (2–9 %) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim was to evaluate the incidence, etiology and outcome. In nine years, a total 532 OLTs were performed in 481 patients. Twenty-four patients developed IBL. Eight were due to HAT, seven to ABOI, three to CDR and six to PI. The time until diagnosis of HAT is longest in patients (14 ± 6) with IBL. ABOI is another cause of IBL. CDR is a rare cause of IBL, however when it takes place, patients must undergo Rtx. Finally, PI is a relevant cause of IBL. In order to suppress the incidence of IBL we should consider 1) the systematic use of Doppler-Ultrasound; 2) emergency reoperation of patients with HAT, 3) avoid ABOI in OLT; 4) Rtx in cases of CDR, and 5) OLT should still be performed as an emergency procedure. Received: 25 October 1999 Revised: 17 January 2001 Accepted: 12 April 2001     

Bowel perforation after paediatric orthotopic liver transplantation

Bowel perforation is a well-recognized complication following orthotopic liver transplantation. Of 194 paediatric liver transplantations performed in our hospital, 13 patients (6.7 %) developed bowel perforation post-transplantation. Contributory factors included previous operation, steroid therapy and viral infection. The incidence was higher in children who underwent transplantation for biliary atresia after a previous Kasai portoenterostomy. Seven patients (53 % of this group) reperforated. Diagnosis may be difficult and a high index of suspicion is needed. Received: 8 December 1997 Received after revision: 17 February 1998 Accepted: 2 March 1998     

肝移植术后内源性真菌性眼内炎附一例报告和文献回顾

目的探讨肝移植术后并发内源性真菌性眼内炎的临床特征。方法分析1例肝移植术后并发内源性真菌性眼内炎患者的临床资料,回顾相关文献。结果肝移植术后并发内源性真菌性眼内炎较少见,该例为我院超过300例肝移植患者中仅有的1例;早期诊断困难,早期手术,取材病理活检对诊断和治疗有帮助。全身抗真菌治疗注意肝损害。结论肝移植术后并发内源性真菌性眼内炎早期诊断困难,可考虑及早手术治疗,但视功能预后不良。     

原位肝移植术后的呼吸道管理

目的探讨肝移植术后呼吸道的管理措施。方法回顾分析2001年2月～2007年3月在我院行肝移植术60例患者的病历资料,总结呼吸道管理措施的有效性。结果60例患者中发生术后肺部胸腔积液52例,感染27例,肺不张4例。全部病人实施严格呼吸道保护和保持呼吸道通畅措施。除1例患者术后31天死于术后多器官衰竭外,其余均顺利度过围手术期。结论术后呼吸道管理非常重要,关键要做好严密保护性隔离,重视物理性预防及使用呼吸装置的护理,严格遵守吸痰方法及无菌操作原则,使患者能顺利度过围手术期。     

Diaphragmatic dysfunction after pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has a low mortality. Some children, however, have an adverse outcome defined as a prolonged ventilatory support requirement and protracted pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay. The aim of this study was to determine if that adverse outcome related to the child's condition pre-OLT and/or the development of a pleural effusion or diaphragmatic dysfunction. METHODS: The study included 210 children with a median age at transplantation of 45.5 months (range 0.2-252 months). Fourteen had undergone retransplantation. The duration of ventilatory support (intermittent positive pressure ventilation [IPPV]) and PICU admission and development of a pleural effusion and/or diaphragmatic dysfunction were documented for each child. The patients were divided into three groups according to whether they had acute liver failure (ALF), chronic liver disease at home (CHOM), or chronic liver failure sufficiently ill to be in the hospital awaiting transplantation (CHOSP). RESULTS: The 36 children with ALF were of similar age to the 138 CHOM and 36 CHOSP children but required longer IPPV (P<0.0001) and PICU stay (P<0.0001). Overall, 17 children developed diaphragmatic dysfunction and 138 pleural effusions; affected children required longer IPPV and PICU stay (P<0.01). Regression analysis demonstrated that diaphragmatic dysfunction, but not pleural effusion development, was associated with prolonged ventilation (P<0.01) and protracted PICU stay (P<0.05). Other risk factors were ALF (P<0.01), retransplantation (P<0.01), and young age (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Diaphragmatic dysfunction adversely influences PICU morbidity after OLT. Early assessment of diaphragmatic function, and if necessary aggressive management, might improve outcome.