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P D Greig

Publications and source records attributed to P D Greig.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A pharmacoeconomic analysis of Neoral without intravenous cyclosporine in liver transplantation in Canada.

Neoral, a microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin A (CsA), has improved absorption compared to Sandimmune and has allowed induction of immunosuppression in liver transplantation (LT) without the use of intravenous (i.v.) CsA. The improved bioavailability with less inter- and intra-patient dosing variability coupled with the lack of requirement for i.v. CsA may provide a mechanism for cost savings when Neoral is used for induction immunosuppression. This retrospective case-control study compares the relative costs associated with Neoral induction without i.v. CsA versus induction with i.v. CsA followed by oral CsA in adult liver transplant recipients. Twenty consecutive patients receiving Neoral 12-15 mg/kg per d were compared to a control group of 21 patients receiving i.v. CsA followed by oral CsA for induction. Both groups received the same rapidly tapered dose of methyl-prednisilone. Health care resource utilization was assigned based on days in hospital and acute rejection episodes (ARE). Hospital per diem rates at specified care levels were used to assign costs associated with hospital stay, while a previously developed case-costing model was used to assign costs to episodes of acute rejection. All patients were followed for a 3-month period post-transplant. Although there was a trend towards shorter hospital stay in the Neoral group the majority of cost savings were achieved by reducing costs associated with episodes of acute rejection. There were seven and 19 episodes of ARE in the Neoral and i.v. CsA groups respectively (p < 0.05.) A separate cost effective assessment of the effect of reducing rejection by decision tree analysis demonstrated a cost reduction of $2162 per patient. The savings achieved with Neoral proved robust on sensitivity analysis. The change of practice to an induction immunosuppression regimen of Neoral without i.v. CsA has achieved a cost savings in adult liver transplantation at our center.

Adult↗

A study of prognostic factors for hepatic resection for colorectal metastases.

BACKGROUND: Liver resection is accepted treatment for selected patients with colon cancer metastatic to the liver. There remains some controversy regarding the selection criteria, particularly which preoperative features are useful predictors of long survival postresection. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three patients who had liver resection for colorectal metastases on the Hepato Pancreatic Biliary Service at The Toronto Hospital between August 1977 and June 1993 were studied. Seventy-seven had solitary lesions, 15 had single lesions with satellite nodules, and 31 had multiple lesions. Synchronous liver metastases were found in 40 patients and 83 patients had metachronous lesions. Fifty-one patients had formal lobectomies and 21 had extended lobectomies. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were seen in 28% of patients, but there were no operative or postoperative deaths. Overall actuarial 5-year survival was 34%. There was a significant difference in survival according to the number of metastases. Patients with single lesions had a 5-year survival of 47% compared with 16% for single lesions with satellite nodules, and 17% for multiple lesions. There were no significant differences in survival based on age, sex, synchronous versus metachronous lesions, status of lymph nodes at the time of original surgery, intraoperative blood replacement, or size of tumor. CONCLUSIONS: An aggressive approach to the surgical management of colorectal liver metastases is possible with low risk in centers specializing in liver surgery, and results in prolonged survival in one third of patients. The most reliable predictor of long-term survival is the number of metastases in the liver.

Adult↗

Evaluation of liver transplantation for high-risk indications.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate use of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) requires continued assessment of the indications for transplantation as a number of diseases are associated with a poor prognosis. High-risk patients are those who have a poor survival or high incidence of recurrent disease (patients with tumours, hepatitis B- or hepatitis C-induced cirrhosis, fulminant hepatic failure or primary graft non-function). In addition, retransplantation may be associated with a poor outcome. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of the records of all adult patients undergoing OLT at this hospital between October 1985 and July 1994. RESULTS: A total of 396 liver transplants were performed in 364 patients. The 1- and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 81 and 69 per cent respectively. The overall survival rate of high-risk patients was significantly lower than that for all OLT recipients (P < 0.05). While no patients transplanted for hepatitis C have developed graft failure, recurrent hepatitis occurred in 15 of 35 patients. CONCLUSION: Strict selection criteria and appropriate perioperative investigations and interventions are required to improve the results of OLT in these high-risk patients.

Adolescent↗

A microemulsion of cyclosporine without intravenous cyclosporine in liver transplantation.

A microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine (CsA) has improved absorption compared with the original form. The purpose of this case control study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the microemulsion without intravenous CsA for induction immunosuppression in adult liver transplantation. Twenty-one consecutive patients receiving induction immunosuppression with the microemulsion 15 mg/kg/day were compared with 20 patients receiving intravenous CsA and the original oral form. Both groups received the same dose of methylprednisilone. Twenty of 21 patients receiving the microemulsion required no intravenous CsA to achieve target CsA levels. All patients receiving the original form received initial intravenous CsA. There was no difference in trough CsA levels between the two groups at 24 and 48 hours. The microemulsion group had 24 hr and 48 hr trough CsA levels of 227+/-15 and 520+/-300 ng/ml by monoclonal RIA while the intravenous CsA group had 24 and 48 hr trough levels of 293+/-18 and 405+/-91 ng/ml. CsA levels analyzed by HPLC were 20% lower than by RIA. The frequency of adverse events resulting in reduction of drug dosage was similar for the microemulsion and the original form: neurotoxicity (23 vs. 40%, P=.30); nephrotoxicity (25 vs. 45%, P=.32), and no patients required dialysis. There was no difference in septic complications. One patient required discontinuation of the microemulsion in an attempt to reverse severe neurotoxicity. A total of 75% of microemulsion patients were rejection free at 3 months while only 35% of CsA patients remained rejection free (P=0.02). These data suggest that the use of the microemulsion without intravenous CsA in liver transplantation is safe and efficacious, and may result in decreased episodes of acute rejection.

Adult↗

A pilot study of ribavirin therapy for recurrent hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation.

Ribavirin is a guanosine analogue that normalizes serum liver enzymes in most nontransplant patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We conducted an uncontrolled pilot study of ribavirin in 9 liver transplantation recipients that had persistently elevated liver enzymes, active hepatitis by liver biopsy, and HCV RNA in serum by polymerase chain reaction. Ribavirin was given orally at dosages of 800-1200 mg per day for 3 mo. All 9 patients promptly responded to ribavirin: mean (+/- SD) ALT decreased from 392 +/- 377 IU/L immediately before treatment to 199 +/- 185 and 68 +/- 37 IU/L after 1 and 12 weeks of treatment, respectively, complete normalization of enzymes occurred in 4 patients. None of the patients cleared the virus from their serum during therapy, and biochemical relapse occurred in all patients 4 +/- 4.2 weeks after cessation of therapy. The hepatitis activity index of liver biopsy specimens obtained before and at the cessation of therapy was similar. Ribavirin treatment was resumed in 4 patients because of increasing fatigue (2 patients), rising bilirubin (3), or increasing necroinflammation on liver biopsy (2); the biochemical response to the second course of therapy was similar to the first course in all 4 patients. Ribavirin caused reversible hemolysis in all patients, including symptomatic anemia in 3 patients that resolved after reduction of drug dosage. These results suggest that ribavirin may be of benefit in the treatment of HCV infection after liver transplantation. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage and duration of therapy.

Adult↗

Acute reactant cytokines and neutrophil adhesion after warm ischemia in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic human livers.

Animal studies suggest that acute phase reactant cytokines and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) may play a critical role in ischemia-reperfusion injury. To evaluate whether similar mechanisms are operative in human liver, six cirrhotic and nine noncirrhotic patients undergoing right hepatectomy were randomized for utilization of hepatic vascular exclusion (HVE) as a model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Portal and systemic levels of acute reactant cytokines (interleukin 6 [IL-6], interleukin 1 [IL-1], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha]) and neutrophil adhesion in serial liver biopsy specimens were studied. Correlations among mediators, leukocyte adhesion, and markers of liver injury were also evaluated. Hepatic vascular exclusion resulted in substantial and reproducible changes in portal and arterial IL-6 levels in both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients. Portal and systemic cytokine levels were comparable in most instances, whereas levels were usually higher in cirrhotic patients than in noncirrhotic patients. Negative correlations were found between IL-6 levels at the time of reperfusion and later TNF-alpha levels. IL-6 levels correlated negatively with numerous markers of hepatocellular injury and the number of postoperative complications. Hepatic vascular exclusion increased neutrophils adhesion after reperfusion in cirrhotic patients but not in noncirrhotic patients. In cirrhotic patients, the degree of leukocyte adhesion after reperfusion correlated with several postoperative markers of liver injury. This study in humans shows that acute reactant cytokines are released during liver ischemia and, interestingly, that IL-6 levels strongly correlate with clinical and laboratory measures of injury. Further studies to evaluate possible causal relationship with hepatic injury are warranted, with emphasis on the role of IL-6 and PMN adhesion.

Adult↗

Kupffer cell erythrophagocytosis and graft-versus-host hemolysis in liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Graft-versus-host hemolysis (GVHH) syndrome develops in approximately half of patients undergoing ABO-unmatched liver transplantation. The clinical and laboratory presentations of GVHH syndrome often mimic acute rejection, leading to liver biopsy for definitive diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate if there are specific histological findings that permit diagnosis of GVHH syndrome and to assess the relationship between GVHH syndrome and rejection. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory evidence of GVHH syndrome, results of liver biopsy, and clinical outcome were assessed in 30 ABO-unmatched liver transplant recipients. Biopsy results were compared with those of two control groups consisting of patients who had normal liver test findings (protocol biopsy) and rejection. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 30 patients (53%) had evidence of GVHH syndrome. Erythrophagocytosis was noted in each biopsy specimen, and the degree of phagocytosis correlated significantly with the amount of blood given after postoperative day 5 (r = 0.9; P < 0.02). Electron-microscopic studies performed randomly in 5 patients showed that the red cells were located in Kupffer cells. In contrast, erythrophagocytosis was minimal in the two control groups. Despite an incidence and severity of rejection similar to those in other liver transplant patients, serum transaminase levels were significantly higher in patients with GVHH syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Erythrophagocytosis is a sensitive histological marker of GVHH syndrome. The severity of rejection and response to antirejection therapy should be monitored by markers other than transaminases in patients with GVHH syndrome.

Adult↗

Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss, transfusion requirements, and coagulation factor use in primary orthotopic liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage liver disease frequently incur large-volume blood loss during liver transplantation associated with mechanical factors, preexisting coagulopathy, and intraoperative fibrinolysis. METHODS: Between April 1992 and May 1994, the authors of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of high-dose tranexamic acid (maximum of 20 g) on blood loss and blood product requirements in patients undergoing primary isolated orthotopic liver transplantation. Primary outcome measures were volume of blood loss (intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage) and erythrocyte, plasma, platelet, and cryoprecipitate use during surgery and the first 24 h of intensive care unit stay. RESULTS: Patients receiving tranexamic acid (n = 25) had less intraoperative blood loss (median, 4.3 l; interquartile range, 2.5 to 7.9; P = 0.006) compared with the placebo group (n = 20; median, 8 l; interquartile range, 5 to 15.8), and reduced intraoperative plasma, platelet, and cryoprecipitate requirements. Median perioperative erythrocyte use was 9 units (interquantile range, 4 to 14 units) in patients receiving tranexamic acid and 13 units (interquantile range, 7.5 to 31 units) in controls (P = 0.03). Total perioperative donor exposure was 20.5 units (interquantile range, 16 to 41 units) in patients receiving tranexamic acid and 43.5 units (interquantile range, 29.5 to 79 units) in controls (P = 0.003). Results for postoperative wound drainage were similar. Hospital stay and need for retransplantation were comparable in both groups. No patient in either group showed clinical evidence of hepatic artery or portal venous thrombosis within 1 month of transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose tranexamic acid significantly reduces intraoperative blood loss and perioperative donor exposure in patients with end-stage parenchymal liver disease who are undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation, with marked reductions in platelet and cryoprecipitate requirements.

Adult↗

The Canadian Organ Replacement Register.

The analyses presented in this chapter are a subset of the yearly audit of organ donation and transplantation in Canada published in the CORR Annual Report. They represent the collaborative efforts and the voluntary contributions of many of the transplant physicians, surgeons, nurses and coordinators in Canada. In Canada, organ donation has remained static at approximately 14 per million population. Despite many local and provincial as well as corporate initiatives, this rate is approximately half the current rate in many regions of the U.S.A. and Spain. The modest increases in transplant activity represent an increase in the use of living donors, reassessment of the traditional donor risk factors (including age) and expansion of the potential donors for each organ. Analysis of the renal transplant activity has determined that the likelihood of being transplanted during the first year on the list was less than 40%. A graft loss rate of 4% per year after the first year was observed for a cadaveric kidney, compared with graft loss rates of 3% and 2% per year for living-related and living-unrelated donor kidneys, respectively. Cox regressional analysis identified that the major determinants of patient survival were the transplant year, the region where the transplant was performed, the presence of diabetes, the recipient's age, and whether the kidney was from a living donor. Liver transplantation has increased each year at the transplant centers in Vancouver, Edmonton, London, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. Patient and graft survival rates have improved since 1985 and the most significant determinant of patient survival following transplantation was the patient's medical status at the time of transplantation. Living-related liver donor transplant programs have begun in London and Toronto. Pancreas transplantation remains limited across Canada, but with the development of new pancreas programs in Toronto and Halifax, an increase in the availability of this therapy for Type 1 diabetics is anticipated. Heart transplantation has recovered from a decline in 1991-1992 to approximately 6 hearts per million population. There has been a trend towards better one- and 3-year patient survival rates since 1985. With the development of a lung transplantation program in Winnipeg, lung transplantation has increased. This likely reflects increased utilization of the available donor lungs. A particular increase in double-lung transplants was noted.

Adolescent↗

The University of Toronto liver transplant program.

The University of Toronto liver transplant program began in 1985 at a time when the procedure had already evolved from an experimental form of surgery to an accepted treatment for many forms of liver failure. The program was established not only to provide clinical care for patients but also to address academically the barriers which impeded success. The program brought together experts in medicine, surgery, pathology, and the basic sciences of immunology, virology and molecular biology. Our group has had a special interest in transplantation for viral hepatitis. We demonstrated the role of HBV DNA as a prospective factor in both viral recurrence and survival. We further studied a number of agents to prevent re-infection including PGE, HBIG and more recently lamivudine. Although the short-term results of transplantation for HCV appear excellent, reinfection of the graft and development of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis may make long-term results problematic. Therefore, we have directed attention to studies of pathogenesis and treatment of HCV in liver transplantation. Our studies have demonstrated a unique role for ribavirin as an immunomodulatory agent which can benefit the course of posttransplant HCV. Future studies will examine combination therapy in an attempt to eradicate the virus. Our group also has been interested in PNF and FHF and have demonstrated a positive effect of PGE in this setting. As we look to the future, the greatest challenges facing transplantation are the shortage of organ donors and the toxic effects of long-term immunosuppression. Our group now has established research efforts both in tolerance induction and xenotransplantation which we feel are necessary to make transplantation an effective, universal treatment for end stage organ failure.

Adult↗

Acute pancreatitis following liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) has not been recognized as a frequent complication following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Reports have suggested that this condition is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 354 patients who underwent OLT at the University of Toronto, with at least one-year follow-up, was done to identify the incidence, etiology, risk factors, and severity of pancreatitis following OLT, as well as to discuss its management. A possible correlation between AP and hepatitis B was also investigated. Prognostic score systems, including Ranson, Imrie, and APACHE II, were also evaluated. RESULTS: Acute pancreatitis occurred in 5.9 percent of the OLT recipients. Based on clinical presentation and diagnostic tests, AP could be subdivided into three distinct categories: biochemical AP, significant increase of serum amylase or lipase levels in absence of objective radiologic or surgical evidence of the disease; clinical AP, pancreatitis with radiologic or surgical evidence of the disease; and AP in the critically ill patient. Biochemical AP occurred in the early postoperative period and was consistently a benign condition. Clinical AP occurred after a delay and was associated with a 40 percent mortality rate. Acute pancreatitis in the critically ill patient was only one component of multiorgan failure, which was lethal in each case. About one-half of the patients with biochemical and clinical AP were hepatitis surface antigen positive prior to OLT. The incidence of AP was significantly higher in patients with hepatitis B (17 percent) than in patients without hepatitis B (3 percent) (p < 0.01). APACHE II was the best prognostic score system in the clinical group with a positive and negative predictive value for a score equal to or greater than 10 points of 67 and 100 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Acute pancreatitis is not an uncommon complication of OLT. Clinical presentation and diagnostic tests have important prognostic values. In some patients, hepatitis B virus may play an important role. APACHE II scores appear to be useful in the evaluation of clinical AP following OLT. Treatment of AP should be similar in both the transplant and nontransplant setting.

APACHE↗

Prostaglandin E in the treatment of recurrent hepatitis B infection after orthotopic liver transplantation.

While orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has become the treatment of choice for most irreversible end-stage liver diseases, its role in patients with hepatitis B (HBV) infection is controversial. A high risk of reinfection of the transplanted graft, associated with significant morbidity and mortality, has been reported. Although passive and active immunization can delay reappearance of the virus in the allograft, there is not yet an effective therapy for recurrent HBV infection in liver transplant recipients. Between October 1985 and March 25, 1991, 28 OLT in 25 patients with acute and chronic HBV infections were performed. Twelve of the patients were HBV DNA-negative, six were HBV DNA-positive, and seven were not tested prior to transplantation. Only the 19 patients surviving more than 100 days after transplantation were considered to have sufficient duration of follow-up (mean 734 days; range 500-1545) to include in analysis of recurrence. Five (26%) were free of recurrent disease at the time of last follow-up (mean 1031 days, range 526 to 1770 days. Recurrent HBV in the allograft, as defined by positive immunoperoxidase stains of biopsy sections for viral antigens, was detected in 74% (13 male, 1 female; 7 Asian, 7 white) at a mean of 134 days posttransplantation. Histological changes of viral hepatitis, first appearing an average of 157 days (range 95-326) posttransplantation, were evident in 13 of 14 with positive immunostaining. Twelve of the 14 patients were treated, on an open trial basis, with intravenous and oral prostaglandin E (PGE) because of deteriorating clinical condition. Eleven of the twelve responded to PGE with an initial drop in serum transaminases, improvement in coagulopathy and resolution of encephalopathy. One patient failed to respond and died of a myocardial infarction within 9 days of institution of therapy. Three of the eleven patients with an initial response relapsed and died in liver failure as a direct result of recurrent HBV after 13, 16, and 37 days of treatment in association with generalized sepsis. Eight of the 12 patients (67%) had a sustained favorable response to PGE therapy (mean follow-up 737 days, range 403-1545). All patients with a sustained response had accompanying improvement in histology and reduction in viral antigen staining in hepatocytes. Treatment with PGE appeared to be of benefit in recurrent HBV infection of the transplanted liver with an initial response rate of 92% and a sustained response rate of 67%.

Administration, Oral↗

Toxic effects of intravenous and oral prostaglandin E therapy in patients with liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandins are cytoprotective agents that have been shown to benefit patients with a variety of acute and chronic liver diseases. Few data exist on the frequency of adverse effects of prostaglandins in these patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 105 patients with liver disease who were treated with either intravenous (i.v.) or oral prostaglandin E (PGE). Forty-four patients with primary nonfunction after liver transplantation and 36 patients with fulminant hepatic failure received i.v. PGE1 for 4.5 +/- 2.6 and 12.6 +/- 10.9 days, respectively. Twenty-five patients with recurrent hepatitis B viral infection after liver transplantation received oral PGE1 for 105 +/- 94 days or PGE2 for 464 +/- 399 days. RESULTS: Twenty-six of 80 patients (33%) receiving i.v. PGE1 developed gastrointestinal and/or cardiovascular side effects and 8% developed arthritis. Twenty-three of 25 patients (92%) who received high-dose oral PGE1 or PGE2 incurred arthritis and/or gastrointestinal adverse effects. Twenty-five patients received prolonged PGE therapy (oral > 60 days; i.v. > 28 days). Of this group, 23 (92%) developed clubbing and cortical hyperostosis resembling hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. All adverse effects were dose related and resolved with reduction or cessation of therapy. CONCLUSION: PGE therapy resulted in a wide spectrum of multisystem adverse effects which were reversible with reduction or cessation of therapy. Although the administration of PGE was safe and generally well tolerated, close medical supervision is necessary to avoid serious side effects.

Administration, Oral↗

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Twenty-nine patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) at the University of Toronto. Four patients did not have cirrhosis. Of the 25 patients with cirrhosis, 19 had known or suspected HCC before OLTx. Eleven patients tested positive for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). No patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. None of the patients have developed recurrent HCC in a follow-up of 9 to 87 months (mean: 33 months). The actuarial post-transplant survival of all patients at 3 months, 1 year and 3 years was 75%, 61%, and 46%, respectively. The survival of HBsAg-negative patients was 69% at 3 years, whereas HBsAg-negative patients had a 3-year survival of 18% (p = 0.045). These results suggest that OLTx for carefully selected patients with otherwise unresectable HCC is associated with a low risk of recurrence. HBsAg-positive patients with HCC have a high mortality, suggesting that they make poor candidates for OLTx.

Adult↗

Definition and classification of negative outcomes in solid organ transplantation. Application in liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: This study defined negative outcomes of solid organ transplantation, proposed a new classification of complications by severity, and applied the classification to evaluate the results of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA: The lack of uniform reporting of negative outcomes has made reports of transplantation procedures difficult to interpret and compare. In fact, only mortality is well reported; morbidity rates and severity of complications have been poorly described. METHODS: Based on previous definition and classification of complications for general surgery, a new classification for transplantation in four grades is proposed. Results including risk factors of the first 215 OLTs performed at the University of Toronto have been evaluated using the classification. RESULTS: All but two patients (99%) had at least one complication of any kind, 92% of patients surviving more than 3 months had grade 1 (minor) complications, 74% had grade 2 (life-threatening) complications, and 30% had grade 3 (residual disability or cancer) complications. Twenty-nine per cent of patients had grade 4 complications (retransplantation or death). The most common grade 1 complications were steroid responsive rejection (69% of patients) and infection that did not require antibiotics or invasive procedures (23%). Grade 2 complications primarily were infection requiring antibiotics or invasive procedures (64%), postoperative bleeding requiring > 3 units of packed red cells (35%), primary dysfunction (26%), and biliary disease treated with antibiotics or requiring invasive procedures (18%). The most frequent grade 3 complication was renal failure, which is defined as a permanent rise in serum creatinine levels > or = twice the pretransplantation values (11%). Grade 4 complications (retransplantation or death) mainly were infection (14%) and primary dysfunction (11%). Comparison between the first and last 50 OLTs of the series indicates a significant decrease in the mean number of grade 1 and 2 complications. This was partially a result of better medical status of patients at the time of transplantation. Using univariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors, the best predictor of grade 1 complications was donor obesity; for grade 2 complications, the best predictor was a donor liver rewarming time of > 90 minutes, and for grade 3 and 4 complications, the best predictor was the APACHE II scoring system and donor cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized definitions and classifications of complications of transplantation will allow us to better evaluate and compare results of transplantation among centers and over time, and better compare effectiveness of new therapies. Orthotopic liver transplantation still is a procedure with high morbidity that requires careful analysis of risk factors to optimize selection of patients and organ sharing.

Adolescent↗