Evaluation of the first liver transplantations in our transplant center experience

Abstract

Purpose: Orthotopic liver transplantation is life-saving in patients with end-stage liver failure. However, infections and acute rejection are the most important causes of morbidity and mortality. Liver transplantation in the treatment of liver failure has begun to be implemented for the first time in Pamukkale University Medical Faculty Health Research and Training Hospital, and the results of liver transplants are shared in this report. Material and method: A total of five cadaveric donor liver transplantation cases were evaluated prospectively. Patients' demografic findings and infectious complications detected after transplantation were examined. Findings: Two of the patients was male, three were female. The mean age was 57.8 ± 9.9 years and the mean MELD score was 12.8 ± 2.4. The organisms isolated included Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Two patients’ had blood stream infection with urinary tract infection (UTI) and one patients’ had postoperative wound infection after bilary leakage. One patients’ developed pneumonia. One patient was developed tacrolimus-induced severe persistent diarrhea and recovered thereafter reduced tacrolimus dose. One of the patients died of post-op 3 days because of reperfusion syndrome. Conclusion: New liver transplantation practices in our country will make many diseases that cause liver failure become treatable as in our transplant center. The duration of hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, invasive interventions, blood transfusions, immunosuppressive treatments cause an increased risk of infection in these patients and high mortality is seen despite antibiotic treatment. Keywords: Liver, Transplantation, Transplant center