Prognostic factors for late mortality after liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There are increasing numbers of patients who survive more than one year after liver transplantation. Many studies have focused on the early mortality of these patients. However, the factors affecting long-term survival are not fully understood. This study aims to evaluate prognostic factors predicting long-term survival and to explore measures for improving the survival outcomes of patients who underwent liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The causes of late death after liver transplantation and potential prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed for 221 consecutive patients who underwent liver transplantation from October 2003 to June 2008. Twenty-seven variables were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and those variables found to be univariately significant at P < 0.10 were entered into a backward step-down Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to identify the independent prognostic factors influencing the recipients' long-term survival.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-eight recipients died one year after liver transplantation. The major causes of late mortality were infectious complications, biliary complications, and Hepatitis B virus recurrence/reinfection. After Cox analysis, the five remaining co-variables were: age, ABO blood group, cold ischemia time, post-infection region, and biliary complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The major causes of late mortality were infection, biliary complications and Hepatitis B virus recurrence/reinfection. Five variables (Age, ABO blood group, cold ischemia time, infection, and biliary complications) had significant impacts on patient survival.</p>

Clinical analysis between "early" versus "late" liver retransplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare early and late orthotopic liver retransplantation (re-OLT) for patients with poor graft function after primary transplantation at our center and sum up our clinical experience in re-OLT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 36 re-OLTs from January 2004 to July 2009 were analyzed retrospectively, consisting of the first group with 17 cases of early re-OLT and the second group with 19 cases of late re-OLT. The average ages were (45 ± 13) years and (48 ± 10) years, and the time intervals were (49 ± 54) days and (514 ± 342) days in early re-OLT group and late re-OLT group, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Biliary tract complications were the main indications for early re-OLT and late re-OLT. Other common indications were vascular complications in early re-OLT and recurrence of primary diseases in late re-OLT. No significant differences were found between the groups with regard to the volume of bleeding during operation, cold ischemia time, operative duration and perioperative mortality except the MELD score. Outcome was fatal for 8 patients in early re-OLT and 10 patients in late re-OLT. Three deaths were due to severe sepsis-related disease, 3 deaths due to multiple organ failure in early re-OLT and 4 deaths due to severe sepsis-related disease, 3 deaths due to recurrence of HCC in late re-OLT. One and 2-year actuarial survival rates after re-OLT were 52.9% and 41.2%, respectively, for patients in early re-OLT, and 63.2% and 52.6%, respectively, for patients in late re-OLT. No significant differences were found regarding survival rates between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The similar clinical results can be achieved in early and late re-OLT. Proper indications and optimal operation timing, experienced surgical procedures and effective perioperative anti-infection strategy contribute to the improvement of the overall survival rate of the patients after re-OLT.</p>

Risk factors predicting late mortality after liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver disease / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To find out the risk factors predicting long-term survival, and to explore the measures for further improving the survival outcome of whom underwent liver transplantation (LT) for benign end-stage liver disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The common causes of late death after LT and risk factors were retrospectively analyzed in 221 consecutive patients, who underwent LT from October 2003 to June 2007 and survived more than one year. Twenty-six potential risk factors were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and those variables found to be univariately significant at P < 0.10 were entered into a backward step down Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to screen the independent risk factors influencing the recipient's long-term survival.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 28 recipients died one year later after LT during the follow-up period. The major causes of late mortality were related to infectious complications 5.0% (11/221), biliary complications 3.6% (8/221) and HBV recurrence/reinfection 1.4% (3/221). After Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, 5 covariables finally retained in the formula were: age (RR = 2.325, P = 0.009), ABO blood group (RR = 2.206, P = 0.015), cold ischemia time (RR = 3.001, P = 0.000), post-infection region (RR = 1.665, P = 0.007) and biliary complications (RR = 2.655, P = 0.004).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Age (≥ 60 years), ABO blood group (incompatible), cold ischemia time (> 12 h), infectious complications (lung infection) and biliary complications (diffuse biliary stricture) significantly impact patient's survival time.</p>

Model for end-stage liver disease-sodium predicts prognosis in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the practical use of the serum sodium incorporated model for end-stage liver disease (MELD-Na) on clinic and to assess its validity by the concordance-statistic in predicting the prognosis of the patients with chronic severe hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult patients with a diagnosis of chronic severe hepatitis B between January 2007 and December 2007 in a single center were analyzed. The serum sodium, MELD, MELD-Na, and Delta MELD-Na (Delta MELD=MELD score at 14 days after medical treatment-MELD score at admission) scores of 426 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B were calculated. The 3-month mortality in patients was measured, and the validity of the models was determined by means of the concordance-statistic.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of Na, MELD and MELD-Na for the occurrence of death in 3 month were 0.718, 0.875 and 0.922. The 3-month mortality of the MELD-Na scores group <25, 25-30, >30-35, >35- <40 and > or = 40 were 2.0%, 5.4%, 35.4%, 53.8% and 86.9% respectively. There was a significant difference of 3-month mortality between the five groups (P<0.05). The 3-month mortality of Delta MELD-Na> 0 group was 65.9%, and the Delta MELD-Na < or = 0 group was 15.8%. There was a significant difference of 3-month mortality between the two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MELD-Na score is a valid model to predict 3-month mortality in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B. Delta MELD-Na is clinically useful parameters for predicting the therapeutic effect of chronic severe hepatitis B.</p>

Immunization with dendritic cells infected with mTERT adenovirus vector effectively elicits immunity against mouse H22 hepatoma in vivo / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of dendritic cells (DCs) infected with adenovirus vector encoding mTERT on induction of mTERT antigen specific immunity against H22 hepatoma in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Bal B/c mice were subcutaneously immunized with Ad-mTERT infected DC. Cytotoxicity of mTERT specific CTL was determined by 51Cr release assay. IL-2 and IFN-gamma were tested by ELISA. IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays were performed for measuring antigen specific IFN-gamma production by T cells. Tumor size and survival of the immunized mice were recorded and evaluated whether preexisting hepatoma metastases could be supressed after immunization with mTERT-expressing DCs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lytic activity of CTL, IL-2 (871.25 pg/ml), IFN-gamma (169.15 ng/ml) and IFN-gamma secreting cells (378/10(6) spleen cells) elicited by the Ad-mTERT infected DCs were much stronger and higher than that by Ad-GFP group (131.6 pg/ml, 15.4 ng/ml, 36/10(6) spleen cells, P<0.05), DC group (71.3 pg/ml, 10.5 ng/ml, 21/10(6) spleen cells, P<0.05), PBS group (65.8 pg/ml, 7.4 ng/ml, 18/10(6) spleen cells, P<0.05). In prophylaxis and treatment experiment the Ad-mTERT/DCs immunized mice lived significantly longer than other groups, demonstrating that primary DCs were genetically modified to express the mTERT antigen and could suppress the tumor growth.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adenovirus vector mediated mTERT infected DCs can effectively induce mTERT antigen specific antitumor activity, and can induce protective and therapeutic antitumor immunity.</p>

Risk factors predicting the prognosis of orthotopic liver transplantation in hepatopulmonary syndrome / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) on hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) and investigate risk factors predicting the prognosis of OLT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six cases of HPS and 30 cases of non-HPS were analyzed treated from April 2004 to January 2006. Survival rates after OLT were compared and risk factors predicting the prognosis of OLT in HPS were researched by univariant and COX analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 28 days survival rate in HPS after OLT was 76.9% (20/26), half a year survival rate and one year survival rate were both 61.5% (16/26). Whereas the one year survival rate of patients without HPS was 100%(P < 0.05). By univariant analysis, shunt of (99)Tc(m)-labeled macro-aggregated albumin in lungs, PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 in room air before operation were relative to the prognosis of peri-operative period and half a year outcome after OLT in HPS (P < 0.05). Shunt of (99)Tc(m)-labeled macro-aggregated albumin in lungs (OR = 1.182, P = 0.001), and mechanical ventilation time (OR = 1.003, P = 0.053) after OLT were independent risk factors predicting the prognosis of OLT in HPS by COX analysis. Shunt of (99)Tc(m)-labeled macro-aggregated albumin in lungs > or = 28.4%, or PaO2 < or = 56 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) before OLT predicted the poor outcome of OLT in HPS. The sensitivity were 83.3% and 85.0% respectively, and the specificity were 95.0% and 83.3% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>OLT is an effective treatment for HPS.Shunt of (99)Tc(m)-labeled macro-aggregated albumin in lungs before OLT and mechanical ventilation time after OLT were independent risk factors for the prognosis of OLT in HPS.</p>

Post-transplant prophylaxis of the recurrence of lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant hepatitis B virus in liver recipients / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the prophylactic efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) for post-transplant recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutation in liver recipients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2004 to May 2006, 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B associated with YMDD mutant HBV prior to liver transplantation received treatment with ADV and additional intramuscular hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) for prevention of post-transplant graft reinfection. The liver function, serum HBsAg, anti-HBs (HBIG), HBeAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBe, HBV DNA and creatinine were examined in all the patients before and after the transplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median follow-up duration of these patients after the transplantation was 33.5 months. Nineteen patients survived and one patient died of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. There was significant difference in YMDD mutation rate between the patients with HBV-DNA over 10(6) copies/ml and those with HBV-DNA less than 10(6) copies/ml (12.4% vs 2.5%, P < 0.05). HBV-DNA was undetectable at 4 weeks after the transplantation in 95.0% of the patients (19/20) and at 6 months in one case. No recurrence of hepatitis B was detected by long-term regular testing of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA. Serum creatinine increased in 1 case 1 year after the use of ADV.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ADV offers protection against recurrence of HBV with YMDD mutation after liver transplantation with only mild nephrotoxicity, but renal function monitoring during the use of ADV is still necessary.</p>

Application of somatostatin combined with oral vancomycin in the treatment of intestinal obstruction after liver transplantation / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of somatostatin combined with oral vancomycin in the treatment of intestinal obstruction after liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-eight cases of intestinal obstruction after liver transplantation from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2006 were divided into two groups: Group A (from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2005) received traditional treatment, including fasting,gastrointestinal decompression, maintaining electrolyte and acid-base balance, enteral and parenteral nutrition support and antibiotics; Group B (from Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2006) received somatostatin combined oral vancomycin in addition to the above mentioned traditional treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifty-eight cases out of 441 patients (13%) suffered from intestinal obstruction after liver transplantation. Group B had a better outcome as compared with Group A, including a quick recovery of flatus and stool, [(7.1+/-2.0) d and (8.4+/-2.4) d vs (9.1+/-3.0) d and (10.8+/-3.4) d] (P<0.05), less amount of gastric drainage [(298+/-58) ml/d vs (485+/-106) ml/d](P<0.05). The rate of intestinal flora imbalance in Group B was 55%, which was significantly less than the 77% in Group A(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The application of somatostatin combined with oral vancomycin can improve the symptoms of intestinal obstruction after liver transplantation and decrease the rate of intestinal flora imbalance.</p>

Retransplantation for hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and timing of re-transplantation for hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between December 2003 and December 2006, the clinical data of 13 patients diagnosed as hepatic artery complications after liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant difference in duration of operation and anhepatic phase between the initial transplantation and the second transplantation (P = 0.291, P = 0.312). However, intra-operative blood loss [(3.1 +/- 1.1) L vs. (1.5 +/- 0.9) L, P = 0.005] and intensive care unit stays [(4.3 +/- 1.8) d vs. (3.2 +/- 2.5) d, P = 0.015] were significantly increased in the re-transplant patients. No perioperative mortality occurred. The postoperative mortality of liver re-transplantation was 38.5% (5/13) including acute renal failure in two patients, severe infection in two and heart infarction in one. The other 8 patients were followed from 6 months to 51 months, with a median survival time of 22.5 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Liver re-transplantation is the only viable option for patients with irreversible graft dysfunction secondary to hepatic artery complications after liver transplantation. Proper indication and optimum time of re-transplantation, reasonable individual immunosuppression regime and effective perioperative care program contribute to the increase of the survival rate of the patients performed liver re-transplantation.</p>

Early liver retransplantation versus late liver retransplantation: analysis of a single-center experience / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Orthotopic liver retransplantation (re-OLT) is the only effective therapy for irreversible failure of a liver graft. Early and late graft failure gives way to two different clinical conditions that should be discussed separately. This study was designed to compare early and late re-OLT for patients with poor graft function after primary transplantation at our center and sum up our clinical experience in re-OLT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 31 re-OLTs at our center from January 2004 to February 2007 were analyzed retrospectively, consisting of the first group with 14 cases of early re-OLT and the second group with 17 cases of late re-OLT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Biliary tract complications were the main indications for early re-OLT (57.1%) and late re-OLT (52.9%). Other common indications were vascular complications in early re-OLT and recurrence of primary diseases in late re-OLT. No significant differences were found between the groups with regard to the volume of bleeding during operation, cold ischemia time, operative duration, and perioperative mortality; except for the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Outcome was fatal for 7 patients in early re-OLT and 9 patients in late re-OLT. Two deaths were due to multiple organ failure with 3 deaths due to severe sepsis-related disease in early re-OLT, and 4 deaths were due to severe sepsis-related disease with 3 deaths due to recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in late re-OLT. One and 2-year actuarial survival rates after re-OLT were 55.2% and 36.9%, respectively, for patients in early re-OLT, and 65.1% and 52% respectively, for patients in late re-OLT. No significant differences were found regarding survival rates between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Similar clinical results can be achieved in early and late re-OLT. Proper indications and optimal operation timing, adequate preoperative preparation, experienced surgical procedures, and effective perioperative anti-infection strategy contribute to the improvement of overall survival rates of patients after re-OLT.</p>

Model for end-stage liver disease-sodium predicts prognosis in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Serum sodium predicts prognosis in chronic severe hepatitis B and may improve the prognostic accuracy of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, but the available information is limited. The present study was undertaken to study the clinical use of the serum sodium incorporated MELD (MELD-Na) and assess its validity by the concordance (c)-statistics in predicting the prognosis of the patient with chronic severe hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 426 adult patients with a diagnosis of chronic severe hepatitis B between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007 at a single center were studied. The scores of serum sodium, MELD, MELD-Na, and DeltaMELD-Na (DeltaMELD-Na = MELD-Na at 14 days after medical treatment -MELD-Na score on admission) of the patients with chronic severe hepatitis B were calculated. The 3-month mortality in the patients was measured, and the validity of the models was determined by means of the concordance (c) statistics.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average MELD, MELD-Na scores of survival group were 25.70 +/- 5.08 and 26.60 +/- 6.90, and those of dead group were 35.60 +/- 6.78 and 42.80 +/- 9.57 on admission. There was a significant difference in MELD and MELD-Na between the survival and dead groups (P < 0.01). The average DeltaMELD-Na score of the survival group was -0.97 +/- 3.51, and that of the dead group was 3.45 +/- 2.38 at 2 weeks after the treatment. There was a significant difference in DeltaMELD-Na between the survival and dead groups (P < 0.01). The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of Na, MELD and MELD-Na for the occurrence of death in 3 months were 0.742, 0.875 and 0.922. The 3-month mortality of the MELD-Na scores group < 25, 25-30, 31-34, 35-40 and > 40 were 2.0%, 5.4%, 35.4%, 53.8 % and 86.9%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the 3-month mortality between the five groups (P < 0.05). The 3-month mortality of the DeltaMELD-Na > 0 group was 65.9%, and that of the DeltaMELD-Na = 0 group was 15.8%; there was a significant difference in the 3-month mortality between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MELD-Na score is a valid model to predict the 3-month mortality in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B. DeltaMELD-Na is a clinically useful parameter for predicting the therapeutic effect of chronic severe hepatitis B.</p>

Effect of CTLA4-Ig gene transfer on rejection of rat islet xenografts / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig) gene transfer on rejection of rat islet xenografts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human islets were infected with the recombinant adenoviruses containing CTLA4-Ig gene, and the transduced islets were transplanted under the left kidney capsule of diabetic rats to establish rat models bearing human-rat islet xenografts. The blood sugar of the rats receiving the transplantation was measured and the xenografts and host survival were observed after transplantation. The morphological changes of grafts were examined, in which the expression of CTLA4-Ig and insulin were also detected by immunohistochemical staining and the cytokines were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The blood glucose of the rats bearing the grafts decreased to the normal level on day 2 after transplantation. The average blood glucose level of the CTLA4-Ig gene transfected group and the control group increased on day 25 and 8 post-transplantation, respectively. The grafts of the transfected group survived for an average of 28-/+6 days, significantly longer than that in the control group (10-/+2 days, t=10.52, P<0.01), and the host survival were 48-/+8 and 21-/+6 days in the two groups, showing also significant difference between them (t=12.23, P<0.01). In the control rats, serum IL-2 and TNF-alpha concentration drastically increased within 7 days after transplantation to levels significantly higher than that before transplantation (P<0.01), but in the transfected group, the levels were decreased compared with the preoperative levels. In the transfected grafts, positive staining for CTLA4-Ig and insulin were detected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CTLA4-Ig gene transfer may lower the rejection of rat islet xenografts and prolong the survival time of both the grafts and hosts.</p>

Effects of gene transfer CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody on the rejection of rat islet xenografts / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of gene transfer cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig) and anti-cluster of differentiation 154 (CD154) mAb on the rejection of rat islet xenografts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human islets were infected with the recombinant adenoviruses containing CTLA4-Ig gene. Transduced islets were transplanted under the left kidney capsule of diabetic rats. And then the animal model were treated with anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody. The changes of blood sugar were measured and the survival rates of grafts and transplantation rats were observed after transplantation. The morphological changes of grafts were observed. Expression of CTLA4-Ig and insulin were detected by immunohistochemical staining and cytokines were quantified by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The blood glucose of transplantation rats decreased to normal level on 2nd day post-transplantation. The average level blood glucose of control group A, anti-CD154mAb treatment group B, transfected group C and associated treatment group D increased on day 8, 18, 25, 36, post-transplantation respectively. (2) The grafts of group A, B, C and D survived for (10.0 +/- 2.1) d, (22.0 +/- 8.2) d, (28.0 +/- 6.5) d and (37.0 +/- 9.3) d respectively. The survival of grafts in group D was significant longer than that in group A, B and C, respectively; The survival of group B and C were significantly prolonged compared with group A and the survival of group B was significantly different with group C (P < 0.05). The survival of transplantation rats were (21.0 +/- 5.7) d, (35.0 +/- 6.5) d, (48.0 +/- 8.5) d and (65.0 +/- 12.5) d in group A, B, C and D, respectively. The survival of transplantation rats compared each other among four groups were same as the survival of grafts (P < 0.05). (3) In control animals (group A), serum IL-2 and TNF-alpha concentration were elevated to a high level within seven days post-transplantation and significantly increased compared with that before transplantation (P < 0.01). (4) Hematoxylin-eosin staining of grafts showed a lot of islets under the kidney capsule of transplantation rats, no inflammatory cell infiltrate and immunohistochemical staining of grafts demonstrated expression of insulin protein at islets in group B, C and D. These grafts positively stained for CTLA4-Ig in group C and D.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gene transfer CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD154mAb treatment can inhibit the rejection of rat islet xenografts and treatment Ad-CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD154 mAb could induce immune tolerance of islet xenografts.</p>

An evaluation of the prognosis of patients with chronic severe hepatitis using a model for end-stage liver disease / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prognosis evaluation and treatment strategy of chronic severe hepatitis (CSH) patients using a model of end-stage liver disease (MELD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The MELD scores of 135 CSH patients on the day of their admittance to our hospital and the DeltaMELD scores after two-weeks of medical treatment were retrospectively analyzed. They were also compared with the scores of the three-month mortality rate of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean MELD score calculated on the first day of the patients who died after their admission to the hospital was 37.00+/-6.50, while that of the living group was 25.80+/-5.20. The difference was highly significant (chi(2)=72.00, P < 0.01). MELD score after two-weeks medical treatment of the patients who died was 1.57+/-0.89, while that of the living group was -0.99+/-0.73; the difference was also highly significant (chi(2)=56.35, P < 0.01). The area under the ROC curve of MELD score (c-statistic) was 0.90, while the c-statistic for DeltaMELD score was 0.76. On the first day of their admission, when the MELD score was < 25, the three-month mortality rate was 2%; when it was 25 <or= MELD <or= 30, the three-month mortality rate was 7%; when it was 30 <MELD score < 35, the three-month mortality rate was 43%; and when MELD score >or= 35, the three-month mortality rate was 81%; the differences between these groups were all highly significant (P less than 0.01). When MELD scores were above zero, the three-month mortality was 51%, and when DeltaMELD scores were less than or equal to zero, the three-month mortality rate was 13%. All the differences were highly significant (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A high MELD score and a high Delta MELD score herald high three-month mortality rates in patients with CSH. MELD is quite usable in assessing the prognosis in patients suffering CSH. The choice of treatment for the CSH patients could be made by integrating the MELD score calculated on the first day of being admitted to a hospital and the Delta MELD score after their medical treatment.</p>

Major neurological complications following liver transplantation and their management / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical features, underlying mechanism and management of major neurological complications following liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of 467 patients undergoing liver transplantation from Oct. 2003 to Sep. 2005 were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Neurological complications occurred in 91 (19.49%) cases. The most common neurological complications were encephalopathy (72 cases), followed by stroke (12 cases), seizure (4 cases), central pontine myelinolysis (3 cases), and central nervous system infections (2 cases). Five encephalopathy cases were treated with continuous renal replacement and 5 intracranial hemorrhage cases with neurosurgical intervention. The mortality related to neurological complications was 10.98% (12/91).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Neurological complications are common and potentially fatal following liver transplantation involving several factors. CsA and FK506 may play an important role in the onset of neurological complications, and stroke, especially intracranial hemorrhage, has a high mortality. Combined therapies and timely modulation of the immunosuppressive regimens may improve the patient's outcome.</p>

Anatomical variation of the donor hepatic arteries: analysis of 843 cases / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anatomical variations of donor hepatic artery and explore the measures that can be taken to avoid accidental hepatic artery injury during graft procurement and reconstruction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of totally 843 consecutive patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) during the period from April 2001 to July 2006 was reviewed in relation to anatomical variation of the donor hepatic arteries. The variations of the hepatic artery, the relationship between the anomalous hepatic artery and accidental injury of the hepatic artery were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 843 cases of OLT, the total anatomical variation rate of the donor hepatic arteries was 20.4% (172/843). The common variations included replaced or accessory right hepatic arteries originated from superior mesenteric artery (6.67%, 57/843), replaced or accessory left hepatic arteries originated from the left gastric artery (6.41%, 54/843) or from the celiac trunk and gastro-duodenal artery (1.66%, 14/843), replaced or accessory right hepatic arteries originated from the celiac trunk, common hepatic artery and gastro-duodenal artery (1.54%,13/843), replaced or accessory right hepatic arteries and left hepatic arteries coexistence (0.83%, 7/843), variation of the common hepatic artery from the superior mesenteric artery (1.54%, 13/843) or from the abdominal aorta (0.95%, 8/843).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>During graft procurement and reconstruction, accidental injury of the hepatic artery is more likely in the presence of hepatic arterial variation, which can be a common clinical entity. Acquaintance with hepatic arterial variation and maintenance of the integrity of the superior mesenteric artery and celiac trunk are key to reducing potential hepatic artery injuries.</p>

Prophylaxis and treatment of operation-correlated complications in orthotopic liver transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the common reasons, prophylaxis and treatment of operation-correlated complications in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six hundred and forty-seven patients who underwent OLT from Apr 1993 to Dec 2004 were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were totally 39 cases (6.0%, 39/647) of vascular complications including 23 cases (3.6%) of hepatic artery complications, 6 cases (0.9%) of portal vein complications and 10 cases (1.5%) of vena cava complications. All vena cava complications were occurred in the patients of non-cavaplasty. The success rate of stent placement in treatment of hepatic artery stenosis was 2/2; for patients with hepatic artery thrombosis, the success rate of retransplantation was 4/6, that of revasculation and balloon dilation were 3/7 and 2/7 respectively. Stent placement can treat both anastomotic strictures and venae cavae stricture with the cure rate of 3/3 and 10/10 respectively. There were 34 cases of biliary complications, in which 27 cases were in patients with T tube, and 7 cases in without T tube. The incidence of biliary leak and biliary infection was significantly different between these two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The modified piggyback (cavaplasty) technique could prevent the incidence of venae cavae complications effectively. Stent placement is an effective way to treat vascular stenosis. And retransplantation should be performed in early hepatic artery thrombosis. It is important to protect the blood supply of biliary system, and choledochostomy without T tube is the first choice for biliary reconstruction.</p>

Prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus reinfection after liver transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the risk factors and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection after liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with HBV related end-stage liver disease underwent liver transplantation in our center, and received the combination of intramuscular hepatitis B virus immunoglobulin and oral lamivudine as prophylaxis for HBV reinfection. HBV reinfection cases were monitored after the transplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBsAg disappeared and HBsAb was detectable in 128 of total 130 patients. The median follow-up period was 12.2 months after transplantation. Eight patients developed HBV reinfection. The recurrence rate of HBV was 6.3%. The reinfection risks were 14.3% and 4.0% respectively among patients with serum HBeAg positive and negative before transplantation (P < 0.05). Among patients with serum HBsAg positive and negative at the first day after liver transplantation, the reinfection risks were 21.1% and 3.7% respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combination of intramuscular HBIg and Lamivudine as prophylaxis of HBV reinfection is effective. HBeAg positive before liver transplantation and HBsAg positive at the first day after transplantation are risk factors of HBV reinfection.</p>

Diagnosis and treatment of invasive aspergillosis infection following orthotopic liver transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the treatment and appropriate management of invasive aspergillosis infection following orthotopic liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 576 cases who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation consecutively between January 2000 and January 2005 were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of invasive aspergillosis infection was 1.74 (9/576), included 8 cases with pulmonary aspergillosis and 1 case with cerebral aspergillosis. The interval between transplantation and diagnosis were from 10 days to 2 months. Persistent or discontinuous low fever maybe the main clinical presentation after operation. Liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) is the mainly treatment for invasive aspergillosis infections, 5 patients were cured and 2 patients developed multi-organ aspergillosis infection died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clinical features of invasive aspergillosis infection following orthotopic liver transplantation were un-typical presentations in the early stage and easy to disseminate. Appropriate modification of immunosuppression therapy and early, high dose and long-term application of antifungal treatment is effective and safe to cure the disease.</p>

The treatment strategy of early ALI after liver transplantation / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the treatment strategy of early acute lung injury (ALI) after liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>18 patients complicated with ALI after liver transplantation were given comprehensive therapies and two minutes of recruitment maneuver (RM) to open previously collapsed lung units and then lung protective ventilatory strategy within 3 hours of hypoxemia. The inspiratory pressure was 25 cm H2O and PEEP 17 cm H2O. Optimal PEEP were maintained after RM to stabilize lung volume.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PaO(2), SaO(2) and PaO(2)/FiO(2) of all 18 patients were improved greatly. RM was effective in 17 patients except one case of severe pulmonary infection, whose PaO(2)/FiO(2) was only improved by 40%. PaO(2), SaO(2) and PaO(2)/FiO(2) were increased by 68 mm Hg, 9.5%, and 104.7% respectively. And the improved oxygenation can be maintained 2 - 24 hours. The effective rate of RM was 94.4%. All 18 patients were weaned and extubated successfully with the survival rate of 100%. RM was well tolerated without complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ALI post liver transplantation should be diagnosed and treated in early stage. RM combined with lung protective ventilatory strategy is a safe and effective treatment for early ALI after liver transplantation.</p>