Orthotopic liver transplantation in Groningen, The Netherlands (1979-1983).
From March, 1979 to March, 1983, 26 orthotopic liver transplantations and 1 retransplantation were performed in our center. Sixteen patients are alive, 5 beyond 2 years and 1 longer than 4 years after transplantation. The actuarial 1- and 2-year survival is 60%. Factors contributing to this result are patient selection and biliary anastomosis. In cirrhotic patients, the degree of deterioration of liver function correlated with survival; in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, extrahepatic spread of tumor was the most frequent limiting factor. Choledochocholedochostomy with a widening plasty had a low complication rate providing that the arterial blood supply was undisturbed. Until now, HLA-matching has not contributed to the result of liver transplantation, although the effect for long-term survival is still unknown. The high survival rate and excellent quality of life of long-term survivors justify liver transplantation as treatment for otherwise noncurable liver diseases.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000601:surgery; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D014481:United States