title: Retransplantation of the liver.
abstract: Retransplantation (re-TX) is the only available therapy for irreversible liver graft dysfunction. The outcome of a second procedure depends upon several factors, some of which are not defined at the time of the decision to retransplant. This study is an analysis of all re-TX of the liver performed at our unit between January 1995 and January 2004. Among the 474 liver TX were 55 (11.6%) re-TX in 47 patients. We studied (1) diagnosis at first TX; (2) indication for re-TX and time lapse; (3) donor age and cold ischemia time (CIT); (4) duration of operation, peroperative bleeding, and complications; (5) ICU and ward periods; and (6) patient and graft survivals. Patients who underwent re-TX did not differ from those transplanted once with regard to age, gender, or diagnosis. The indications for re-TX were roughly one-third biliary tract complications/chronic rejection, one-third hepatic artery thrombosis, and one-third others, including primary nonfunction, acute rejection, portal vein thrombosis, sepsis, and B/C hepatitis. The re-TX were "urgent" in 29 and "elective" in 26 cases. Complications were common; about half of the patients were reoperated due to bleeding or biliary problems. To date (May 2004), 15 patients have died (12 "urgent" and 3 "elective"), of whom 5 had well functioning grafts. In summary, liver re-TX is a complicated procedure associated with significant mortality and morbidity, but considering that the actual patient group has a poor prognosis without re-TX, the results are nevertheless encouraging.
authors.affiliation: Transplantation and Liver Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. bengt.gustafsson@surgery.gu.se
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Backman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herlenius
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindnér
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mjornstedt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olausson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis