title: Cadaveric liver transplantation for non-acetaminophen fulminant hepatic failure: a 20-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the long-term results of liver transplantation (LT) for non-acetaminophen fulminant hepatic failure (FHF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 20-year period, 29 FHF patients underwent cadaveric whole LT. Most frequent causes of FHF were hepatitis B virus and drug-related (not acetaminophen) liver failure. All surviving patients were regularly controlled at the out-patient clinic and none was lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up was 101 mo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month, one-, five- and ten-year patient survival was 79%, 72%, 68% and 68%, respectively. One month, one-, five- and ten-year graft survival was 69%, 65%, 51% and 38%, respectively. Six patients needed early (< 2 mo) retransplantation, four for primary non-function, one for early acute refractory rejection because of ABO blood group incompatibility, and one for a malignant tumor found in the donor. Two patients with hepatitis B FHF developed cerebral lesions peri-transplantion: One developed irreversible and extensive brain damage leading to death, and one suffered from deep deficits leading to continuous medical care in a specialized institution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term outcome of patients transplanted for non-acetaminophen FHF may be excellent. As the quality of life of these patients is also particularly good, LT for FHF is clearly justified, despite lower graft survival compared with LT for other liver diseases.
authors: Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, University of Liège, CHU Sart Tilman B35, Liège B4000, Belgium. oli.detry@chu.ulg.ac.be
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Detry
authors: Arnaud
authors: A
authors: De Roover
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Coimbra
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Delwaide
authors: Marie-France
authors: MF
authors: Hans
authors: Marie-Hélène
authors: MH
authors: Delbouille
authors: Joseé
authors: J
authors: Monard
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Joris
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Damas
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Belaïche
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Meurisse
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Honoré
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic