[Neurological complications following a liver transplantation: experience from a Chilean center].
BACKGROUND
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the treatment of choice for multiple acute and chronic end-stage liver diseases as well as for selected cases of liver malignancy and liver-site metabolic disorders. Neurological impairment is a major source of morbidity and mortality following OLT.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the incidence and the type of neurological complications occurring in the post-operative period of OLT in patients transplanted in our hospital.


METHODS
Between March 1994 and August 2007, 76 adult patients underwent OLT. Data on incidence, time of onset, and outcome of central nervous system (CNS) complications have been obtained from our program data base and patient charts.


RESULTS
Twenty three patients (30.3%) had CNS complications following OLT. The leading complications were immunosuppressive drug-related neurological impairment in nine patients (39.1%), peripheral nerve damage in five patients (21.7%), central pontine myelinolysis in four patients (17.4%), cerebrovascular disease in three (13%) and CNS infection in three (13%). Most CNS events (90%) occurred in the first 2 weeks after OLT. Five patients with neurological complications died (22%).


CONCLUSIONS
CNS complications occurred in almost one fifth of the population studied, and they had a poor outcome, as previously reported).
Mellado
Patricio
P
Departamento de Neurología, Hospital Clínico, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. pmellado@med.puc.cl
Peredo
Pilar
P
Valenzuela
Raúl
R
Arrese
Marco
M
Pérez
Rosa María
RM
Domínguez
Pilar
P
Guerra
Juan Francisco
JF
Jarufe
Nicolás
N
Martínez
Jorge
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult