title: [Analysis of the causes of death in patients awaiting liver transplantation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the causes of death of patients awaiting liver transplantation, in order to improve the management of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 63 patients died in our hospital from January 2003 to June 2007 while waiting for liver transplantation were analyzed retrospectively, including waiting time, general condition, treatment and causes of death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average length of stay awaiting liver transplantation and stay in intensive care unit was (32.53+/-17.21) days and (12.75+/-9.77)days, respectively. While on the waiting list, the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, encephalopathy and infection was 47.62%, 39.68% and 74.60%, respectively. The predominant causes of death were septic shock or multiple organ failure (MOF) and varicose vein bleeding, accounting for a mortality of 39.68% and 26.98%, respectively. Blood purification, when used timely, offered therapeutic effects for hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic renal syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the candidates in the waiting list of liver transplantation, the major causes of death were infection and lethal upper digestive tract bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Yang
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yi-He
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Wei-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014850:Waiting Lists