Hepatic Transplants in Espirito Santo State, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The Meridional Hospital Liver transplant unit is the only one active in all Espírito Santo State, Brazil, since 2004.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to analyze data of the first 250 transplants performed by the team.

METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed files from patients transplanted in the Meridional Hospital from January 2005 to December 2015.

RESULTS: There were 250 liver transplants in 236 patients and 14 retransplants. 72.4% were male recipients, with average age of 51.1 years (1-70 years), and the main etiology was alcoholic cirrhosis (33.6% of the cases). Surgical reintervention occurred in 58 patients (include retransplantations) during the same hospitalization, with revision of homeostasis and retransplant as main indications. In the retransplant group, 73.3% of patients died within 2 months. Thrombosis of the hepatic artery was responsible for 40% of the indications for retransplant. The average time between first and second transplant was 223 days (median 14 days). Currently 152 of 236 patients are living, with 1-year life expectancy of approximately 71%. The mortality peak occurred from the immediate postoperative period to 2 months post-transplant (63.8% of the deaths). 32% of subjects did not need intraoperative blood transfusion. The average time of intensive care unit stay was of 8.52 days, and overall hospital stay was 21.7 (median 15 days).

CONCLUSION: Despite the logistic difficulties and lack of donors our unit, keep in advance with survival comparable to other national centers (68% to 74% in 1-year).