SummaryPost-transplant lymphomas or other lymphoproliferative lesions, which were usually associated with Epstein-Barr virus infections, developed in 8, 4, 3, and 2 recipients, respectively, of cadaveric kidney, liver, heart, and heart-lung homografts. Reduction or discontinuance of immunosuppression caused regression of the lesions, often without subsequent rejection of the grafts. Chemotherapy and irradiation were not valuable. The findings may influence policies about treating other kinds of posttransplantation neoplasms.

ObjectiveThis study analyzed the incidence and timing of biliary tract complications after orthotopIc liver transplantation (OL Tx) in 1792 consecutive patients. These results were then compared with those of previously reported series. Finally, recommendations were made on appropriate management strategies. Summary Background DataTechnical complications after OL Tx have a significant Impact on patient and graft survival. One of the principle technical advances has been the standardization of techniques for biliary reconstruction. Nonetheless. biliary complications stili occur. A 1983 report from the University of Pittsburgh reported biliary complications in 19% of all transplants, and an update in 1987 reported biliary complications In 13.2% of transplants. MethodsThe medical records of all patients who underwent liver transplantation and were hospitalized between January 1,1988 and July 31.1991 were revieWed. The case matenal conSisted of the medical records of 217 patients treated for 245 biliary complICations. Results Primary biliary continuity was established by either choledochocholedochostomy over a T·tube(C-C, n = 129) or a Roux-en-Y choledochoJeJunostomy With an internal stent (C-RY, n = 85). The overall Incidence for biliary complication in this large senes was 11.5%. Strictures (n = 93) and bile leak (n = 58) were the most common complications (69.6%). Most biliary complications (n = 143, 66%) occurred Within the first 3 months after surgery. In general, leaks occurred early, and strictures developed later. Bile leaks were equally frequent In both C-C and CoRY (27.1 % and 25.9%, respectively): strictures were more common after a CoRY type of reconstruction (36.4% and 52.9%, respectively). Twenty-one patients died, an InCidence of 9.6%. Fifteen of the 21 biliary-related deaths were among patients treated for rejectIOn before the recognition of biliary tract pathologiC findings. 40

During the 10-year period (1980 to 1989), 76 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated by subtotal hepatic resection (HX) and 105 patients by orthotopic liver transplantation (TX) under cyclosporine-steroid therapy. Overall 1- to 5-year survival rates of the HX group were 71.1%, 55.0%, 47.2%, 37.2%, and 32.9%, respectively, and those of the TX group were 65.7%, 49.0%, 39.2%, 35.6%, and 35.6%, respectively. The survival rates after HX and after TX correlated well with pTNM stages and were similar in each stage between the two groups. However, when HCC was associated with cirrhosis of the liver, the survival rates after TX were significantly better than those after HX at each stage of pTNM classification. The tumor-recurrence rate was high both after HX (50%) and TX (43%), particularly in advanced stages of pTNM classification (60% or more). Twelve patients after HX and 13 patients after TX lived more than 5 years during this 10-year period. Fibrolamellar HCC and early stages of HCC were highly represented among the long-term survivors. Further improvement in survival rates depends on nonsurgical anti-cancer therapy before and/or after surgical removal of HCC.

The proposed risk-score grading predicted the survival differences extremely well. Estimated survival as determined by the Cox proportional hazards model was similar to that determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. Verification and further improvements of the proposed system are awaited by other centers or international collaborative studies.

A venous bypass technique (BP) that does not require the use of systemic anticoagulation is used routinely at our institution in all adult patients during the anhepatic phase of liver transplantation (L T). Complete cardiopulmonary profiles were obtained in a subset of 28 consecutive cases. During the anhepatic phase while on bypass, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure were maintained at prehepatectomy levels. Oxygen consumption fell secondary to a decrease in temperature and the removal of the liver. Consequently, cardiac index fell without an increase in arterial-venous O2 content difference, reflecting adequate tissue oxygenation. Compared with 63 patients in a previous series given L T without bypass (NBP), the 57 total BP patients experienced better postoperative renal function (p < 0.001), required less blood use during surgery (p < 0.01), and had better survival 30 days after LT. The equivalency of 90-day survival in these groups results from the lack of effect of BP on the long-term survival of patients considered at high risk for metabolic reasons. BP patients at high risk for technical considerations, however, survived LT whereas NBP patients did not. BP offers other advantages important in establishing L T as a service-oriented procedure.T HE DRAMA TIC IMPACT of cyclosporine on survival following liver transplantation has been widely reported. I -4 Yet despite extensive experience with the operation during the preceding 17 years, only a few important technical improvements were reported to have significantly enhanced survival. 3 • 5 -s In fact, during the first 3 years in which cyclosporine was used, mortality related to a difficult intraoperative course remained a disturbing problem. For the most part, these difficulties centered around the anhepatic phase and repeatedly underscored the need for an effective method of venous bypass. The need for the development of new methodology was clearly demonstrated by the severe penalty imposed by the requirement for systemic heparinization during a trial of venous bypass using conventional

No abstract

Hepatic artery thrombosis is a dreadful complication of orthotopic liver transplantation. It should be suspected in cases of fulminant liver failure, delayed bile leak, or intermittent sepsis of unknown cause after liver transplantation. Accurate diagnosis is assisted by ultrasound and computerized tomography scans, but usually requires arteriography. Prompt retransplantation is required in most of the cases.

The difficulties in consistently prolonging survival after orthotopic liver transplantation have been documented by us 1 and by Calne. 2 In this report we describe a new trial of orthotopic liver transplantation in 14 patients who were scheduled to be treated with cyclosporin A and prednisone. Two patients died during the operation. Ten (83 per cent) of the 12 patients who survived surgery and received the drugs are living after eight to 14½ months; another lived for a year, before dying of a recurrence of cholangiocarcinoma.Although longer follow-up periods and more case studies will be required to establish the safety and effectiveness of this form of therapy, the exceptionally encouraging early results seem attributable to the use of cyclosporin A in combination with low doses of steroids for immunosuppression. The first use of cyclosporin A in liver transplantation was reported by Calne et al. 3 MethodsFourteen patients (age range, eight to 41 years) were accepted for the pilot trial. Liver replacement was attempted between March 10 and September 28, 1980. Two patients who were scheduled to be treated with cyclosporin A plus prednisone died during operation. One bled to death from a laceration of the portal vein, and the other received a homograft too large to permit the abdomen to be closed. Thus only 12 patients were treated with immunosuppression. TransplantationThe general techniques used in these operations have been previously described. 1,4 Seven of the 14 livers were removed during operations in cities other than Denver (75 to 2000 miles [120 to 3200 km] away). All 14 livers were preserved with Collins' solution, as described by Benichou et al. 5 Ischemia lasted from 1½ to 10½ hours. Biliary-tract reconstruction was performed through duct-to-duct, gallbladder-to-jejunal-Roux-limb, and common-duct-toRoux-limb anastomosis, in that order of frequency. Selection of Recipients and DonorsOf the 12 patients who survived the operation, three had chronic aggressive hepatitis and three had the Budd-Chiari syndrome. The following diseases were present in one patient each: primary biliary cirrhosis, secondary biliary cirrhosis, sclerosing cholangitis, hepatoma, Byler's NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript disease, and intrahepatic atresia. Of the two patients who died during operation, one had sclerosing cholangitis and the other had secondary biliary cirrhosis (caused by a gunshot wound to the hepatic hilum).Each donor was blood-group compatible with each respective recipient. There were no positive T-cell or B-cell cytotoxic cross matches at warm temperatures. In the 12 surviving patients, mismatches at the A and B loci averaged 3.3±0.7 (S.D.) and matches averaged 0.6±0.5. The number of matching DR loci ranged from 0 to 1 (mean, 0.4). ImmunosuppressionCyclosporin A treatment was started on the day of operation (17.5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, given intramuscularly or by mouth). After six to eight weeks the doses were reduced to 10 mg per kilogram per day or le...