LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION BEFORE 1 YEAR OF AGE JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS Esquivel, C. O., Koneru, B., Karrer, F., Todo, S., Iwatsuki, S., Gordon, R. D., Makowka, L., Marsh, W. J., Starzl, T. E. 1987; 110 (4): 545-548

Abstract

Since 1981, 20 infants younger than 1 year of age received 26 orthotopic liver transplants. Immunosuppression was with cyclosporine and corticosteroids. Thirteen (65%) of the recipients were discharged from the hospital. To date, 12 (60%) of the 20 recipients are surviving, with follow-up of 1 to 56 months (average 14 months). The 5-year actuarial survival is 53.8%. The allograft liver function in the majority of surviving infants is excellent. The predominant causes of mortality were primary nonfunction of the allograft (three patients) and sepsis (three). Major morbidity was caused by hepatic artery thrombosis (five patients), gastrointestinal complications (six), biliary tract complications (five), and bacterial and viral infections (13). Six patients underwent retransplantation; three of these six survived. Results could be improved by prevention of hepatic artery thrombosis, by decreasing the incidence of sepsis, and by procurement of more and better suited pediatric donors.

View details for Web of Science ID A1987G751100007

View details for PubMedID 3550022

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2965445