title: An experience of liver transplantation in Latin America: a medical center in Colombia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for acute and chronic liver failure, for selected cases of tumors, and for conditions resulting from errors in metabolism. This paper reports the experience of a medical center in Latin America.
  
  
  METHODS
  Were conducted 305 orthotopic liver transplantations on 284 patients between 2004 and 2010. Of these patients, 241 were adults undergoing their first transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of patients was 52 years old, and 62% of the individuals were male. The most common indication was alcoholic cirrhosis. The rate of patient survival after 1 and 5 years was 82 and 72% respectively. The rate of liver graft survival after 1 and 5 years was 78 and 68% respectively. The main cause of death was sepsis. Complications in the hepatic artery were documented for 5% of the patients. Additionally, 14.5% of the patients had complications in the biliary tract. Infections were found in 41% of the individuals. Acute rejection was observed in 30% of the subjects, and chronic rejection in 3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, liver transplantation at our medical center in Colombia offers good mid-term results, with a complication rate similar to that reported by other centers around the world.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia ; Gastrohepatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Gastrohepatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Londoño
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia ; Gastrohepatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia ; Gastrohepatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guzmán
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia ; Gastrohepatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoyos
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia ; Gastrohepatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Restrepo
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Research Group, National Faculty of Public Health, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arbeláez
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital, Medellin, Colombia ; Gastrohepatology Research Group, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Correa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003105:Colombia; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cirrhosis; immunosuppressive; liver graft; liver transplantation; rejection