[Indications and results of liver retransplantation: experience with 1181 patients at the University Hospital La Fe].
Liver retransplantation (LrT) is the only therapeutic option for irreversible failure of a hepatic graft and accounts for 2.9%-24.0% of all liver transplantations (LT). It is technically difficult and has a high level of immediate morbidity and a lower survival than primary LT. Our aim was to determine the rate of LrT and its indications, morbidity, post-operative mortality and actuarial survival in the retransplanted patient.


METHODS
A historical cohort study of 1181 patients transplanted between 1991 and 2006.


RESULTS
Of the 1260 LT performed, 79 were LrT. At the time of the first LT there were no differences between those patients and those that did not require an LrT. The LrT rate was 6.3% and the most frequent causes were: hepatic artery thrombosis (31.6%), recurrence of cirrhosis due the HVC (30.4%) and primary graft (21.5%). The ischemia times, perfusion syndrome and hepatic congestion were no different between the primary LT and the LrT. On the other hand, red cell transfusions were higher in LrT (6.3+/-4.9 vs. 3.5+/-3.0 units, P<0.001). The post-operative morbidity and morbidity (up to 30 days after the LT) was higher in retransplanted patients (68.4% vs. 57.0%, P=0.04 and 25.3% vs. 10.9%, P<0.001; respectively). The actuarial survival at 1 and 5 years was 83% and 69% in those without LrT, 71% and 61% in early LrT and 64% and 34% in delayed LrT (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the increased morbidity and mortality of LrT, it appears that this treatment alternative is still valid in those patients with an early loss of the liver graft. On the other hand, when the graft loss is delayed, it needs to be defined, what would be the minimum acceptable results to indicate LrT and which patients could benefit from this treatment.
Torres-Quevedo
Rodrigo
R
Departamento de Anatomía Normal, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Chile. rtorresquevedo@yahoo.es
Moya-Herraiz
Angel
A
San Juan
Fernando
F
Rivera
Jairo
J
López-Andujar
Rafael
R
Montalvá
Eva
E
Pareja
Eugenia
E
De Juan
Manuel
M
Aguilera
Victoria
V
Berenguer
Marina
M
Prieto
Martín
M
Mir
José
J
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure