BACKGROUND: To evaluate the preliminary results of a liver transplantation center that has piggyback as the standart technique. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of nineteen liver transplants emphasizing postoperative complications and patients survival rate. RESULTS: Nineteen liver transplants were performed in 18 patients, with nonliving donors, employing a technique that preserves vena cava (piggyback) in 100% of cases.The most frequent indication for liver transplantation was cirrhosis by virus C in nine patients (47%). According to severity of liver disease, nine cases (47.3%) were classified as Child C and eight (42%) as Child B. The last two cases were fulminant hepatitis and late hepatic artery thrombosis. The patients mean age was 45.6 years-old. Cold ischemia mean time was 7.8 hours and mean hospital stay was 18 days. The most frequent complications were biliary (21%), three patients requiring reoperation and one treated by endoscopy. Two cases of late hepatic artery thrombosis were found. One of them was retransplanted. One patient died (5,2%) at the 8th day postoperative due to primary nonfunction of the graft. The survival rate (more than 30 days) was 94.7%. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that it is possible to reach good results in the beginning of a liver transplantation program when there is a standart technique and a qualified group of professionals involved with postoperative complications.
Liver transplantation; Postoperative complications; Survival rate
