Modified Chevrel technique for abdominal closure in critically ill patients with abdominal hypertension and limited options for closure.

Abdominal compartment syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition seen in critically ill patients, and most often caused by acute pancreatitis, postoperative abdominal vascular thrombosis or mesenteric ischemia. A decompressive laparotomy is sometimes required, often resulting in hernias, and subsequent definitive wall closure is challenging. AIM: This study aims to describe short term results after a modified Chevrel technique for midline laparotomies in patients witch abdominal hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a modified Chevrel as an abdominal closure technique in 9 patients between January 2016 and January 2022. All patients presented varying degrees of abdominal hypertension. RESULTS: Nine patients were treated with new technique (6 male and 3 female), all of whom had conditions that precluded unfolding the contralateral side as a means for closure. The reasons for this were diverse, including presence of ileostomies, intraabdominal drainages, Kher tubes or an inverted T scar from previous transplant. The use of mesh was initially dismissed in 8 of the patients (88,9%) because they required subsequent abdominal surgeries or active infection. None of the patients developed a hernia, although two died 6 months after the procedure. Only one patient developed bulging. A decrease in intrabdominal pressure was achieved in all patients. CONCLUSION: The modified Chevrel technique can be used as a closure option for midline laparotomies in cases where the entire abdominal wall cannot be used.

Use of Nonvascularized Fascia in Liver Transplantation.

Abdominal wall transplant is developed in the context of intestinal and multivisceral transplant, in which it is often impossible to perform a primary wall closure. Despite the fact that abdominal wall closure is not as consequential in liver transplant, there are circumstances in which it might determine the success of the liver graft, especially in situations that compromise the abdominal cavity and facilitate an abdominal compartment syndrome. CASE 1: A 14-year-old girl suffering from cryptogenic cirrhosis with severe portal hypertension that causes ascites and severe malnutrition. Uneventful liver transplant, with a graft procured from a 14-year-old donor. At the time of wall closure it was decided to implant a nonvascularized fascia graft to supplement the right side of the transverse incision, with a 17 x 7 cm defect. This required reintervention after 4 months for biliary stricture. At that point, the wall graft was almost completely integrated into the native tissue. CASE 2: A 63-year-old man, transplanted for hepatitis C virus+ hepatocellular carcinoma+ nonocclusive portal thrombosis. Thirty-six hours after transplant the patient developed portal thrombosis. Thrombectomy and closure with biological mesh were performed. After 24 hours he was reoperated on for abdominal compartment syndrome and temporary closure with a Bogotá bag. Six days later he underwent omentectomy, intestinal decompression, and left components separation, identifying a 25 x 20 cm defect. For definitive closure, a nonvascularized fascia graft procured from a different donor was used, accomplishing a reduction in intra-abdominal pressure. Nonvascularized fascia transplantation is an interesting alternative in liver transplant recipients with abdominal wall closure difficulties.

Aortic Graft Mycotic Pseudoaneurysm as a Severe Complication After Multivisceral Transplantation: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Surgical complications in multivisceral transplantation (MVT) are frequent and always severe. Those related to technical issues are relevant as they have implications not only on the graft but also on patient survival. The aim of this study was to review our case-based data and experience with 5 MVT performed since December 2004. CASE REPORT: A 38 year-old woman presented with ultra-short bowel syndrome due to massive ischemia also affecting the celiac trunk. She also had moderate to severe hepatitis/steatosis with some degree of fibrosis on liver biopsy, due to long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN). An MVT was carried out in September 2010 including the liver, stomach, pancreatoduodenal complex with the spleen, and small bowel. The postoperative course was complicated by a leak from the pyloromiotomy, requiring reoperation on postoperative day 13. She also had central line catheter infection and renal impairment, requiring renal replacement therapy, and was discharged on postoperative day 150. Fifteen days later she was hospitalized because of severe abdominal pain associated with an abdominal mass. Computed tomography showed an aortic donor graft pseudoaneurysm, so we decided to operate on the patient. A complete resection of the pseudoaneurysm using an interposed polytetrafluoroethylene graft was performed. Six months after the MVT, the patient died due to sepsis, despite a functional graft and complete digestive autonomy. CONCLUSIONS: Although this complication is rare, surgical complications in MVT are severe and may seriously impair graft and patient survival.

Infectious Complications Following Small Bowel Transplantation.

Microbiological spectrum and outcome of infectious complications following small bowel transplantation (SBT) have not been thoroughly characterized. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing SBT from 2004 to 2013 in Spain. Sixty-nine patients underwent a total of 87 SBT procedures (65 pediatric, 22 adult). The median follow-up was 867 days. Overall, 81 transplant patients (93.1%) developed 263 episodes of infection (incidence rate: 2.81 episodes per 1000 transplant-days), with no significant differences between adult and pediatric populations. Most infections were bacterial (47.5%). Despite universal prophylaxis, 22 transplant patients (25.3%) developed cytomegalovirus disease, mainly in the form of enteritis. Specifically, 54 episodes of opportunistic infection (OI) occurred in 35 transplant patients. Infection was the major cause of mortality (17 of 24 deaths). Multivariate analysis identified retransplantation (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-4.80; p = 0.046) and posttransplant renal replacement therapy (RRT; HR: 4.19; 95% CI: 1.40-12.60; p = 0.011) as risk factors for OI. RRT was also a risk factor for invasive fungal disease (IFD; HR: 24.90; 95% CI: 5.35-115.91; p < 0.001). In conclusion, infection is the most frequent complication and the leading cause of death following SBT. Posttransplant RRT and retransplantation identify those recipients at high risk for developing OI and IFD.

Histologic evaluation of organ preservation injury and correlation with cold ischemia time in 13 intestinal grafts.

Lesions produced in the graft mucosa due to harvesting, storage, and implantation must be graduated to assess the subsequent protocolized biopsy specimens. The aim is to identify type and intensity of graft mucosal lesions observed immediately after implantation. Congestion, hemorrhage, microthrombi, neutrophilic infiltrates, shortening of villi, epithelial detachment, erosion, and crypt loss were separately evaluated by two pathologists in mucosal biopsy specimens from 13 grafts. Each change was assessed as normal, mild, moderate, or severe and by splintering the summation of points a global score was designed. Cold ischemia time was registered. Correlation between the pathologists' evaluations and between final preservation injury degree and cold ischemia time was determined using the "index of correlation rho (ρ)" (Spearman's test). The same changes were assessed in 19 biopsy specimens from day 2 to day 6 (3.6 ± 1.1) to determine their evolution. Congestion was found in 7 biopsy specimens, microthrombi in 2, hemorrhage in 4, neutrophils in 6, villous atrophy in 8, epithelial detachment in 9, erosions in 2 and/or crypt loss in 2. The maximum degree of preservation injury was expressed as intense congestion and hemorrhage associated with epithelial detachment and villous atrophy. The global preservation score was grade 3 in 2 cases, grade 2 in 5, grade 1 in 2, and grade 0 in 4. There was positive correlation (ρ = 0.915) in the evaluation between pathologists (P < .01), total agreement in 9 biopsy specimens, and partial agreement (only 1 point disagreement) in 4. Mean cold ischemia time was 327 ± 101 min. (135-480). There was positive correlation (ρ = 0.694) between preservation score and cold ischemia time (P < .01). In the follow-up biopsy procedures, histological injury decreased by at least one grade in every case. Additionally, karyorrhexis was observed in 3 grafts and very occasional apoptosis in 2 others. This scale achieves good reproducibility and allows graduate preservation injury in intestinal transplantation.

Histologic evaluation of post-implantation immediate C4d deposition in 13 intestinal grafts: correlation with cell-based crossmatching, cold ischemia time, and preservation injury.

C4d deposits are predictive of humoral rejection in kidney and heart transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify C4d deposit patterns in intestinal mucosa of the grafts on biopsy specimens obtained immediately after implantation and to detect if it could be a valuable tool to predict humoral or acute rejection. A second objective was to search for a statistically significant relationship between positive C4d deposition and other collected variables. Thirteen immediately post-transplantation mucosal graft biopsy specimens, formalin fixed, underwent immunohistochemical stain for C4d deposits. Diffuse intense staining of capillary endothelium was considered positive and absent, focal or weak stains as negative. Preservation injury grade and cold ischemia times were registered for each case. Donor-specific preformed antibodies were detected by complement dependent cytotoxicity serologic technique (crossmatching). Another 19 endoscopic follow-up biopsy specimens from days 2 to 6 were also evaluated. Statistical studies were made using the index of correlation ρ (Spearman's test). Diffuse intense C4d deposits were observed in 2 grafts, focal and weak in 5, and completely negative in 6. The mean cold ischemia time was 327 ± 101 minutes. Two cases showed diffuse positive deposits, 1 had a positive crossmatch and the cold ischemia time was 360 minutes whereas the other had not preformed antibodies and its cold ischemia time was 475 minutes. Humoral or acute rejection was not observed in follow-up mucosal biopsy specimens. There was no statistically significant relationship between the C4d deposition, cold ischemia time, crossmatching results, and preservation injury degree. In conclusion, C4d deposition was not a helpful tool for diagnosis of humoral rejection and prediction of acute rejection during the early post-transplantation period.

Renal failure associated with intestinal transplantation: our experience in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Renal failure (RF) is a frequent complication in non-renal solid organ transplants. In the present study, we analyze our experience with intestinal transplants (ITx). METHODS: Between 2004 and 2012, we performed 21 ITx in 19 adult patients. Alemtuzumab was used as an induction agent followed by tacrolimus. Renal function was assessed before ITx and during the perioperative period. RESULTS: The main cause for transplants was non-resectable desmoids tumors (33.3%), followed by vascular thrombosis (19%) and others. Medical complications were frequent, especially infectious diseases, which were the most common (51%). Surgical complications were also frequent, but most of them (>50%) were mild but leading to a great number of re-operations and prolonged stays in hospital. Acute rejection is very frequent (66.6%) but mild in more than 70% of the cases. Finally, RF was very frequent (68.4%; 13/19 patients) and accounted for 15.6% of all medical complications. Causes were multiple. One patient is awaiting a kidney transplant, but no other patients need renal replacement therapy at the moment. Ileostomy closure was performed in 5 of 12 patients alive, showing improved renal function in 3 of them. CONCLUSIONS: RF is a problem in ITx and is always multifactorial. Increases in hospital stay, higher morbidity and is a cause for hospital readmission. Almost all patients had an impaired renal function when discharged. Immunosuppressants and ileostomy closure as soon as possible might prevent RF.

Malignancy after liver transplantation: cumulative risk for development.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ recipients are at high risk to develop malignancies due to the complex interactions of several factors, constituting a major cause of late death after transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed an historic cohort of adult liver recipients from cadaveric donors (multiorgan recipients excluded) performed from 1986-2002 with a minimum follow-up of 36 months. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess cumulative risk to develop malignancy and survival analyses. RESULTS: Among the 528 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with a mean follow-up of 2400 days, 98 developed cancer among which 25% were skin malignancies. Sixty-seven patients developed at least 1 noncutaneous malignancy, an overall incidence of 12.7%. Eighteen percent suffered from posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease; 14%, lung cancer; 4%, Kaposi's sarcoma; 7%, genitourinary malignancies; and 17%, oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancer. The cumulative patient risks to develop noncutaneous malignancies at 5, 10, and 15 years posttransplantation were 9% (confidence interval [CI]: 0.06-0.11), 18% (CI: 0.14-0.23), and 25% (CI: 0.18-0.31), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: OLT recipients are at higher risk to develop malignancies after transplantation, reaching a cumulative risk of 25% at 15 years. Long-term surveillance measures and screening programs must be seriously conducted for selected groups.

Second case of neurocysticercosis in a patient with liver transplantation (first case in Spain): a case report.

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a disorder caused by the Taenia solium larva. It is the most common parasitosis of the central nervous system (CNS). Its distribution is universal, but it is endemic in many developing countries and in the third world. In Spain most patients come from countries where the condition is endemic. However, sporadic cases occur among the population of rural regions. NCC in transplant recipients is uncommon. One renal transplant recipient developed NCC but responded to treatment with praziquantel. Recently, it has been reported to complicate a liver transplantation. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 49-year-old Ecuatorian man who received a cadaveric donor liver graft in June 2001 due to acute liver failure induced by toadstool and was under treatment with FK506. In January 2006, the patient presented with a generalized onset of a tonic-clonic seizure for 1 minute without sphincter incontinence, headache, fever, or previous brain trauma. Neurological evaluation did not show evidence of organic brain dysfunction. The neuroimaging findings (brain) computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging were compatible with NCC: many cystic lesions intra- and extraparenchymatous with a scolex visible in three of them. Serology for cysticercosis in plasma was initially indeterminate but positive afterward. The patient was treated with anticonvulsivants (valproic acid) and albendazole. Systemic steroids were added in order to reduce the edema produced upon death of the cyst. Treatment lasted 3 weeks and it was completed without complications or neurological symptoms. Liver function was not affected. One year later the patient remained asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: NCC is a condition that must be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with CNS involvement and cystic lesions on neuroimaging investigations in transplant recipients, especially patients originating from or traveling to endemic areas. First-line therapy for active cysts includes antiparasitic drugs (albendazole or praziquantel) as well as steroids and anticonvulsivants. In our patient, this therapy was effective.

Incidence of de novo nonmelanoma skin tumors after liver transplantation for alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Skin tumors are the most common malignancies after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). They have been related to sunlight exposure, tobacco consumption, and immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of de novo skin tumors (nonmelanoma) in patients who underwent liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis versus nonalcoholic diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 1986 and July 2004, we performed 1000 OLT in a population of 888 recipients. This study was performed in a sample of 701 adult recipients who survived >2 months after transplantation: 276 patients (39.4%) underwent OLT for alcoholic cirrhosis (AC-group), and 425 (60.6%) for nonalcoholic disease (N-AC). The overall incidence of de novo skin tumors was 3.5% (25 tumors): 5.4% (15 tumors) in the AC-group and 2.4% (10 tumors) in the N-AC group (P = .027). Two patients developed two tumors. There were 19 men and 4 women, mean age at OLT of 54.4 +/- 6.8 years (range, 40 to 66 years). The mean time from OLT to tumor diagnosis was 66.1 +/- 51.4 months (range, 3 to 165 months): 56.4 +/- 44.4 months in the AC-group versus 80.6 +/- 59.8 months in the N-AC group (P = NS). Histologically, 17 tumors (68%) were basal cell carcinomas and eight tumors (32%) were squamous cell carcinomas (P = .128). Fourteen patients (60.8%) were smokers: 11 patients (84.6%) in the AC-group versus 3 patients (30%) in the N-AC group (P = .012). All the patients underwent tumor resection, with only one patient dying, because of lymph node invasion of the neck. CONCLUSION: There was a higher incidence of de novo skin tumors among patients who smoked who underwent OLT for alcoholic cirrhosis.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: our experience from 1986.

UNLABELLED: Currently liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for early hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease. We analyzed our experience to identify factors that could be used to select patients who will benefit from liver transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From April 1986 to December 2001, 71 (8.7%) of 816 LT performed in our institution, were for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. In 25 patients the tumor was observed incidental by (35.2%). All patients had liver cirrhosis, most due to hepatitis C related (35) or alcoholic (14) diseases. Before liver transplantation, chemoembolization was performed in 18 patients (25.4%). RESULTS: Bilateral involvement was present in seven patients. Eight patients showed macroscopic vascular invasion, and eight others showed satellite nodules. Most patients were stage TNM II (29) and IVa (16). Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 79.3%, 61%, and 50.3% with recurrence-free survivals of 74.6%, 57.5%, and 49%, respectively. With a mean follow-up of 42 months, 12 patients (19%) developed recurrence and 29 patients died (only 11 due to recurrence). Stage TNM IVa, macroscopic vascular invasion, and the presence of satellite nodules significantly affected overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates and histologic differentiation and bilateral involvement only recurrence-free survival. Patients with solitary tumors less than 5 cm or no more than three nodules smaller than 3 cm showed better recurrence-free survival and lower recurrence rates. DISCUSSION: In our experience, liver transplantation proffers good recurrence-free survival and low recurrence rates among patients with limited tumor extension. The most important prognostic factor was macroscopic vascular invasion.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome: current medical-surgical management]. / Síndrome de Budd-Chiari: manejo médico-quirúrgico actual.

The Budd-Chiari syndrome or obstruction of the hepatic veins and/or suprahepatic inferior vena cava is a rare process, frequently associated with hypercoagulable states. There exist several clinical presentations, being most common the acute and subacute forms and rarely seen the fulminant and chronic forms (cirrhosis or fibrosis associated). We present here a female patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome produced by polycythemia, resolved by mesentericocaval interposition "H" shunt using internal jugular vein, after analyzing the current different modalities of medical-surgical treatment, specially portal system shunts and liver transplantation, related to presentation form.

Management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in colonic diverticular disease.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical course, diagnostic approach, therapeutic measures and results, in a series of 13 patients with colonic bleeding diverticula. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1973 to 1995, 72 patients were admitted with the diagnosis of lower gastroin testinal bleeding. Thirteen presented a colonic diverticula bleeding. Mean age was 65.2 years. Medical history, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment (conservative or surgical) and pathology were recorded. RESULTS: Main bleeding time was 3 days. Eight patients needed blood transfusion. All patients underwent colonoscopic examination and it was diagnostic in every patient. Four patients underwent surgery: one case, because of massive hemorrhage and the other three cases due to bleeding recurrence. Pancolectomy was performed in one patient, ileal resection in another and the other two were treated with a sigmoidectomy and a left hemicolectomy. Pathology analysis corroborated colonic diverticula diagnosis. There was no postoperative mortality. Bleeding recurrence did not occur either in postoperative period or in the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic diverticular bleeding usually stops spontaneously, obtaining high rates of preoperative diagnosis with colonoscopy. Less than a third of the cases requires surgical resection.

Hepatic steatosis in liver transplant donors: common feature of donor population?

Fatty change in donor livers is a risk factor for poor function after orthotopic liver transplantation. Various prevalences of steatosis have been reported in time 0 biopsies. The aim of this research was to determine, in a longitudinal study, the degree (percent of hepatocytes involved) and type (size of vacuoles) of fatty change shown by various histologic techniques. Four staining methods were used on sections from three liver wedge biopsies--at liver procurement, at the back-table, and after reperfusion--from 83 consecutive donor livers. Results in Sudan III-stained (SS) sections showed the greatest sensitivity (87.1%), negative predictive value (91.8%), and agreement rate (k = 0.77) when compared with results in thin (1 micron) plastic-embedded toluidine blue-stained (TBS) sections. High-grade steatosis (> 30% steatotic hepatocytes) was identified in 49.4% of SS sections, 46.9% of TBS sections, 38.5% of frozen hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained sections, and 20.7% of deparaffinated H&E-stained sections. Microscopic observations disclosed two types of steatotic pattern: (1) A predominantly small-droplet lipid vacuolzation (high-grade microsteatosis), similar to the steatosis associated with Reye syndrome, was seen in 29% of SS sections and 25% of TBS sections--approximately one-fourth of grafts; and (2) a combined pattern of large and small fat drops (high-grade macromicrosteatosis) was seen in 20% of SS sections and 22% of TBS sections. We concluded that moderate to severe steatosis is a frequent finding in donor livers. The difficulty in detecting lipidic microvacuoles in H&E-stained sections may be the reason for underestimating the grade of fatty change or even for diagnosing as normal some biopsies with high-grade microsteatosis.

Duodenal obstruction by gallstones (Bouveret's syndrome). Presentation of a new case and literature review.

Bouveret's syndrome is a rare entity consisting in a duodenal obstruction due to the passage of gallstones from the gallbladder to the duodenum through a cholecystoduodenal fistula. Approximately 225 cases are reported in the literature. It is most common in old women with a previous history of biliary tract disease. The clinical picture is nonspecific and pre-operative diagnosis is not easy. Oral endoscopy is the main diagnostic procedure and sometimes, a therapeutic option, too. Surgery is the elective treatment specially when endoscopy is unsuccessful. We report a new case of this syndrome successfully treated by surgery, and an extensive review of the literature concerning this issue, focusing mainly on the clinical findings, diagnosis, therapeutic procedures and results. We conclude that Bouveret's syndrome is rare but more frequent in older females with previous biliary disease, better diagnosed by pyloric obstruction syndrome, plain abdominal x-ray, ultrasonography, contrast gastric study and/or gastroscopy (confirming and best procedure). When conservative endoscopic procedure fails, surgical treatment must be carried out, thus obtaining good results.

[The incidence, prognostic factors and survival in young adults with colorectal adenocarcinoma]. / Incidencia, factores pronósticos y supervivencia de los adultos jóvenes con adenocarcinoma colorrectal.

The incidence of colorectal cancer is low in young patients. Because of the infrequent occurrence of this disease in those less than 40 years of age many of the published reports give conflicting results. The aim of this report is to study colorectal cancer in patients < or = 45 years old, a group rarely considered by other authors. We analyzed retrospectively the clinical features of our patients with special reference to the clinical data, personal and family history, site of lesion, and Duke's classification. Potential risk factors were analyzed for their effect on the survival of these patients. Finally, to evaluate the prognostic influence of potential risk factors and detect any interaction, a multivariate analysis was performed. We found 26 (17.2%) patients less than 45 years old with colorectal cancer. The clinical presentation, tumor site, and Duke's grade were similar in the young adult and in the general population but morbidity, mortality and postoperative complications were lower. There were no differences in resection or survival rates. Potential risk factors were no different from those of the general population.

Liver transplantation for Echinococcus granulosus hydatid disease.

The authors report their experience with 6 patients requiring liver transplantation who suffered with liver infestation by Echinococcus granulosus. One patient presented with acute Budd-Chiari syndrome because obstruction of hepatic veins was produced during the first operation; the other 5 patients received liver transplants for terminal chronic liver disease (2 secondary sclerosing cholangitis, 2 secondary biliary cirrhosis, and 1 postnecrotic cirrhosis of the liver). All the patients had been operated previously on for hydatidosis and were at the end of liver functional disorder. Some of the patients had undergone many operations, making the transplantation procedure even more difficult. One patient required a second transplant for primary graft failure; he died 40 days later from cerebrovascular accident. Another patient died 7 months after transplant from pulmonary embolism. The other 4 patients are alive and in optimal condition 37-65 months after transplantation. Hepatic hydatidosis--in principle, a benign disease--can cause hepatic complications that eventually require liver transplantation. The transplantation procedure is more difficult than usual in these cases. Although postoperative complications are frequent, most patients achieve prolonged survival and a good quality of life.

[The treatment of acute liver failure due to fulminating hepatitis by total or partial orthotopic liver transplantation. The clinical results]. / Il trattamento dell'insufficienza epatica acuta per epatite fulminante mediante trapianto epatico ortotopico totale o parziale. Risultati clinici.

Indications for liver transplant in acute fulminating hepatitis (AFH) are predominantly affected by the high mortality of this spontaneous evolution (80-100%). At present patients with AFH have priority for transplant since they form part of the 0 emergency group according to the National Transplant Organisation. During the period between 1986 and the end of February 1992, a total of 254 liver transplants were performed in 202 patients (52 retransplants). In 26 patients (12.8%) (16 females and 10 males) the indication was fulminating acute hepatitis. Etiology was unknown in 20 patients, secondary to hepatitis B in 4 and to hepatitis A in 1, and was caused by isonazide ingestion in 1 case. The age limits were 3-60 years (X = 31.5 years). An isogroup graft was performed in 16 patients (61.5%), compatible in 3 (11.6%) and incompatible in 7 (26.9%). Due to anthropometric differences, a partial graft was used in 7 patients (26.9%); in 2 of the latter the graft was taken from the same donor ("split-liver"). Placement was always orthotopic with resection of the retrohepatic vena cava in 25 patients and its preservation in 1 (left lobe of split-liver). Peroperative (30 days) mortality was 23% (6/26); 2 due to cerebral death, 2 due to sepsis, 1 due to multisystemic insufficiency (MSI) and 1 due to acute pancreatitis. Four patients (15.3%) died some time after transplant; 1 after 5 months due to broncho-pulmonary complications, 1 after 7 months due to subacute hepatitis, 1 after 3 months due to respiratory failure and the last after 5 months due to anoxic encephalopathy and lung infection. Ten patients (39.4%) were re-transplanted; 4 following chronic rejection, 4 due to primary graft no function, 1 due to arterial thrombosis and 1 due to recurrent hepatitis (with cirrhosis). Two of the latter patients died intraoperatively due to coagulopathy and hemorrhage, and 3 following surgery (1 due to sepsis, 1 due to respiratory complications and 1 due to respiratory insufficiency). Two patients underwent a second re-transplant (1 due to chronic rejection and 1 due to recurrent hepatitis) and of these 1 died peroperatively due to sepsis and MSF. Overall mortality was therefore 61.5% (16/26) and the actuarial survival rate of 17 patients (10 living + 7 postoperative deaths) was 68% at 12 months and 52.9% at 36 months. Even if peroperative mortality is relatively high, liver transplant is currently the elective treatment for fulminating acute hepatitis.