Severe novel H1N1 influenza A infection in the immediate postoperative period of a liver transplant patient.
In 2009, the World Health Organization recognized the novel H1N1 influenza A virus as a pandemic infection. Since April 2009, thousands of cases of novel H1N1 influenza A infection have been reported worldwide, and they have resulted in thousands of deaths. South American countries were affected by this infection during their winter season, and Chile presented one of the highest incidence rates. We have recently managed a liver transplant patient who presented with a severe novel H1N1 influenza A infection in the early postoperative period and required prolonged mechanical ventilation. The early suspicion of this infection during the current pandemic influenza in Chile made possible a timely treatment with oseltamivir. We decided to report this case because no other cases of liver transplant patients affected by H1N1 influenza A have been reported so far. We intend to alert clinicians about this potentially devastating viral infection in view of the current pandemic scenario, and here we review some of the recommendations for its prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and possible complications.
Zapata
Rodrigo
R
Liver Transplant Unit, University of Chile School of Medicine, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile. rzapata@alemana.cl
Uribe
Mario
M
Martínez
Waldo
W
Andrade
Alejandro
A
Leal
José Luis
JL
Gomez
Fernando
F
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D053139:Oseltamivir