title: Laparoscopy After Liver Transplant: Result of an Initial Series.
abstract: There are few reports about laparoscopic approach after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this paper is to analyze in terms of feasibility and therapeutic effectiveness an initial experience with laparoscopy in patients who have had a liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic procedures were divided into "early" and "late" laparoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 10 laparoscopic procedures after LT were performed in 9 patients: 3 early and 7 late. The early laparoscopic procedures were performed in 3 patients who had a torpid evolution in their liver transplant: 2 were diagnostic only and 1 was also therapeutic. There were no intraoperative events or conversions. We recorded 2 complications. In 7 patients a late laparoscopy was performed: 4 in the upper abdomen and 3 in the lower abdomen. Of the 4 in the upper abdomen, 3 were liver procedures and 1 was in the transverse colon, on the other side; in addition, 2 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs and 1 laparoscopic appendectomy also were performed. None of these 7 cases was converted, and there were no intraoperative events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early postoperative period, in critically ill patients diagnostic and eventually therapeutic laparoscopy was feasible and effective in our cases. Late laparoscopy in the upper abdomen is difficult due to adhesions and adds to the risk of poor graft function, but was feasible for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Late laparoscopy in the lower abdomen with good graft function has the same safety and efficacy as those performed on nontransplanted patients.
authors.affiliation: General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, British Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: rmaurette@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maurette
authors.affiliation: General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, British Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia Ejarque
authors.affiliation: General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, British Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silberman
authors.affiliation: General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, British Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bregante
authors.affiliation: General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, British Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogetti
authors.affiliation: General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, British Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pirchi
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions