title: Pancreatic complications following orthotopic liver transplantation.
abstract: During fiscal year 1986, 40 out of 196 patients (21%) developed hyperamylasemia following orthotopic liver transplantation. The placement of a retropancreatic aortohepatic arterial interposition graft was associated with hyperamylasemia (p < 0.025). Eight patients (20%) developed clinically significant acute pancreatitis and its sequelae; abscesses and pseudocysts each in 2. Pancreatitis was attributable to the retropancreatic arterial graft in 4, viral infection in 2 and obstruction of the pancreatic duct in 1 patient. All 4 patients with arterial graft-related pancreatitis exhibited poor graft function immediately postoperatively, of whom 2 required retransplantation - both of which failed to function. Five patients died (63%); 2 from primary graft non-function, 2 due to sepsis and 1 from systemic cytomegalovirus infection. We conclude that acute pancreatitis after liver transplantation is a life-threatening complication which is often associated with graft non-function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Health Center of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanaga
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Andreas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tzakis
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Makowka
authors.forename: J Wallis
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Andrei C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Stieber
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Todo
authors.forename: Shunzaburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwatsuki
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Starzl