title: [Liver transplantation in adults: a caseload from Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The success of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has resulted in its widespread use for different liver diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report our 8 years experience with adult OLT at Clinica Alemana de Santiago.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all transplantations done at the center, we recorded patient's overall data and survival, postoperative medical and surgical complications and causes of death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between November 1993 and September 2001, 51 consecutive OLT were performed in 44 patients (22 females, median age 45 years old). Thirty eight patients presented with chronic and 6 with acute or sub-acute liver failure. Cryptogenic cirrhosis and hepatitis C infection were the most common causes for OLT. Postoperative bleeding and extrahepatic biliary complications were seen in 17.6 and 21.5% of cases respectively. Acute rejection, bacterial infections, CMV infection or disease and post OLT hemodialysis were the most common medical complications (51, 31, 19.6 and 19.6% of cases respectively). The overall 1 and 5 years survival rates were 80% and 73% respectively. Considering exclusively the last 22 OLT performed since January 1999, the 1 year survival rate has improved to 91%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver transplantation in Chile provides a good long term survival with acceptable morbidity, due to a multidisciplinary approach management. The survival rates have improved over the last few years probably due to better surgical techniques, ICU care and immunosuppression. These overall results are comparable with those from other Centers in developed countries.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Alemana, Vitacura 5951, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hepp
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaror
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quiroga
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valderrama
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Humeres
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Innocenti
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanhueza
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abarca
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montalván
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Noriega
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Videla
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate