RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with progressive liver disease in which an expected survival of less than a year would be achieved with the transplant. The aim of this study was to determine the evolution of pediatric liver transplant patients in a tertiary care hospital in the northeast country. RESULTS: Twelve patients subjected to liver transplantation included nine females and three males; one case required retransplantation. Age at transplantation was 3.3 years (range 0.11-14). The weight at transplantation was 12.4 kg (5.7-35.5). The most common indication for transplantation was biliary atresia in six patients (50%). According to the type of graft, 12 (92.3%) were from cadaveric donors, of which seven were segmental. The most common complications were infectious ones in nine patients (75%); surgical complications occurred in eight children (66.6%), with immediate postoperative bleeding in five cases (41.6%). The three-year survival in the entire series was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that pediatric liver transplantation is possible in this institution, with a better survival expectancy of patients in the future.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is the best treatment for end stage liver diseases. In April 2003, our institution started a Liver Transplantation Program for both pediatric and adults population. OBJECTIVE: Shown the results of the Liver Transplantation Program in the UMAE 25 Monterrey N.L. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with liver transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 51 liver transplantations have been done in 49 patients with two retrasplantation, 15 in children and 36 in adults. The principal indication for liver transplantation in children was biliary atresia and hepatitis C cirrhosis in adults. The acute renal failure was the main early complication, the acute cellular rejection in the mediate period, and the cardiovascular diseases as late complication related to obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Overall survival at 1 and 5 years was 57.1 and 54.2%, respectively. During the first three years post-transplantation, the quality of life was good or very good. CONCLUSIONS: Although still a young and perfectible program, the effort of a multidisciplinary team has made possible to perform liver transplantation in two patient populations, pediatric and adults.