Variables influencing the outcome following orthotopic liver transplantation
J. J. Brems, J. R. Hiatt, J. O. Colonna 2nd, G. el-Khoury, W. J. Quinones, K. P. Ramming, S. Ziomek and R. W. Busuttil
Department of Surgery, UCLA, School of Medicine.
Seventy-two patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT)
were studied to identify perioperative variables that would predict
survival and intraoperative blood loss. Survival and intraoperative blood
loss were not affected by encephalopathy, length of donor liver ischemia,
or any of the preoperative laboratory values studied. Survival was
significantly decreased in patients requiring postoperative dialysis (41%)
and in patients who had severe rejection requiring retransplantation (33%).
Intraoperative blood loss was significantly greater in patients over 50
years of age (11.6 blood volumes) and patients with biliary atresia (8.7
blood volumes). These results may aid in choosing future recipients for
orthotopic liver transplantation and in anticipating the postoperative
support needed.
