Objective To evaluate the efficacy of liver grafts with warm ischemia and with different cold preservation time in liver transplantation.Methods The clinical data of 154 patients who received liver transplantation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2006 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.The warm ischemia time of the liver grafts obtained from the non-heart-beating donors was within 10 minutes.According to cold perservation time of the liver grafts,patients were divided into 3 groups:the cold preservation time of the liver grafts was within 8 hours,8-12 hours and above 12 hours in group I(n=58),group Ⅱ(n=62)and group Ⅲ(n=34),respectively.The peak level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),primary graft dysfunction(PGD)after liver transplantation,acute rejection response,biliary complications,vessel complications,perioperative infections and the survival of liver grafts and recipients among the 3 groups were analyzed via chi-square test,t test and variance analysis.Results No PGD was detected in the 3 groups after liver transplantation.All patients were followed up for 8-32 months.The peak level of ALT,incidence of infection and biliary complication,survival of liver grafts and recipients were(482±357)U/L,12%(7/58),12%(7/58),86%(50/58)and 88%(51/58)in group Ⅰ,and were(1274±608)U/L,29%(10/34),26%(9/34),68%(23/34)and 71%(24/34)in group Ⅲ,with significant difference between the 2 groups(t=5.23,X~2=4.28,6.77,4.51,4.28,P<0.05).The peak level of ALT in group Ⅱ was(953±424)U/L,which was significant higher than(482±357)U/L in group Ⅰ(t=4.76,P＜0.05).Conclusions Liver grafts with a warm ischemia time shorter than 10 minutes could tolerate the injury caused by cold preservation with the maximum time of 12 hours.The incidences of biliary complications and postoperative infections are significantly increased and the survivals of liver grafts and recipients are decreased when the cold preservation time exceeds 12 hours.

BACKGROUND:Nowadays,liver grafts for transplantation are clinically sourced from non-heart-beating donors.Moreover,there is still no uniform determination of safe time limit points for non-heart-beating donor liver in warm ischemia and cold preservation.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the application safety and curative effects of warm ischemia liver graft affected by varied cold ischemia time (CIT) in liver transplantation.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A randomized controlled observation was performed in the Organ Transplantation Center,First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2006 and December 2007.PARTICIPANTS:154 cases who underwent non-heart-beating liver transplantation were included in this study.All liver graftsinvolved had a warm ischemia time(WIT) less than 10 minutes.METHODS:All cases were assigned into 3 groups according to CIT:group Ⅰ (CIT＜8 hours,n=58),group Ⅱ (CIT 8-12hours,n=62),and group Ⅲ (CIT 13-16 hours,n=34).The liver grafts were randomly allocated for the patients.Following liver transplantation,the same immunosuppression protocol was employed for each group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Following surgery,peak level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after liver transplantation,acute rejection response,biliary complications,vessel complications,perioperative infections,graft and recipient survival rate were compared among 3 groups.RESULTS:Follow-up time was 8-32 months.No PGD was detected in all 154 cases.Group Ⅱ showed postoperative ALT peak levels significantly higher than group Ⅰ (P＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between groups Ⅰ and Ⅱin terms of acute cellular rejection,perioperative infection,biliary complication,vessel complication,graft survival rate,and recipient survival rate (P＞0.05).Compared with group Ⅰ,the group Ⅲ exhibited significantly increased postoperative ALT peak level,biliary complications,and perioperative infections,and significantly decreased graft and recipient survival rate (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Non-heat-beating-liver grafts with less than 10 minutes of warm ischemia can tolerance 12 hours of cold ischemia.More than 12 hours,postoperative liver transplantation complications ascend and,contradictorily,graft and recipient survival rate descend.

Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in treatment of biliary complications after liver transplantation. Methods Data of 39 patients who underwent ERCP between January 2005 and December 2007 because of biliary complications after liver trans-plantation were retrospectively evaluated. Endoscopic sphincterotomy, dilatation, nasal-biliary drainage (ENBD) and stent placement were performed in 25 patients with biliary strictures (14 at anastomosis site and 11 at non-anastomosis site). ENBD and stent placement were applied in 6 patients with biliary leakage, while endoscopic sphincterotomy, ENBD and stone extraction with baskets were performed in 16 patients with biliary stones. Procedures were repeated when necessary. Results ERCP was successfully performed at a rate of 95.9% (94/98) without any severe complications. Strictures at anastomosis site were resolved in all patients (100%, 14/14), while for strictures at non-anastomosis site, only 27.3% (3/11) were cured. Biliary leakage was resolved in 83.3% (5/6) patients. Complete bile duet clearance was achieved in 81.3% (13/16) of the patients with biliary stones. Conclusion ERCP proves to be safe and effective in the treatment of post liver transplantation biliary complications with low incidence of severe complications.

BACKGROUND: Tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients greatly affects prognosis of liver transplantation with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How to prevent tumor recurrence has aroused increasing attention. Arsenious acid chemotherapy is considered effective on treating moderate or advanced liver cancer, but its utilization following liver transplantation remains few. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of arsenious acid on tumor recurrence in liver transplant patients with primary HCC extending Milan criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were routinely followed up for 3-32 months. Thirty recipients were presented with tumor recurrence, 16 in the chemotherapy group and 14 in the non-chemotherapy group. Tumor recurred in lung, liver graft and bones in most cases. The total recurrence rate was similar in these two groups, but chemotherapy could delay recurrence after transplantation (P=0.026). There was no significance in 6-month, 1-year survival rate between two groups, but the 2-year survival in the chemotherapy group was higher (P=0.037); 6-month tumor-free survival rates in the two groups had no significance, 1-year and 2-year tumor-free in the chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the non-chemotherapy group (P=0.030, 0.023). Intravenous arsenious acid chemotherapy can delay tumor recurrence and prolong survival in liver transplant patients with HCC extending Milan criteria.

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage hepatic artery thrombosis(HAT) after adult liver transplantation.Methods387 consecutive adult patients who underwent liver transplantation from June 2007 to October 2010 by the same surgery team in the Transplant Center,First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively studied.Hepatic arterial blood flow was monitored by color Doppler ultrasound (DUS) daily during the first week after transplantation.Ultrasonic contrast or hepatic artery angiography was performed on recipients with suspected HAT.Results10 patients developed HAT on 7(2-18)d after operation.The incidence of HAT was 2.6％ (10/387).Interventional therapy was performed in 2 patients with one patient who received a stent because of hepatic artery stricture.Three patients underwent emergent hepatic artery revascularization combined with intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis treatment.One developed a rethrombosis and died.The remaining 2 patients received re-transplantation.Three patients died of liver failure and severe infection.The mortality rate was 40％ (10/387).ConclusionsIt is essential to diagnoses HAT by monitoring the artery flow by Doppler ultrasound screening in the early period after operation.Interventional therapy,emergent hepatic artery revascularization and re-transplantation are effective rescue treatments.Prevention of HAT is most important.

Objective To investigate the features of familiar facial palsy,ophthalmoplegia and dysphagia characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance in a family and to discuss the classification and pathogenesis of the disease.Methods Clinical,electrophysiological,pathological examinations were performed and blood samples were obtained from 5 patients and 26 family members.PCR protocol was used to identify a certain gene. Results In the 5 patients receiving physical examination,all had ptosis,external ophthalmoplegia,facial paralysis,dyphagia,hoarseness,decreased pharyngeal reflex;4 had amyotrophy of muscle of tongue,temporal nuscle,masseter and muscles of distal lower limbs;3 had proximal limb asthenia and distal limbs amyotrophy.Compared to those of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy(OPMD)with similar symptoms and signs,both electrophysiological manifestation and pathological findings of the family members supported the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy,but the(GCG)6(GCA)3GCG in the first exon of PABPN1 mutated neither in normal family members nor in patients.Conclusions This family presents clinical manifestations somewhat resembling to those of OPMD and distinctive to other disorders,but has a totally different genetic background from OPMD.It may be a new subtype of muscular dystrophy.

Objective To investigate the methods and techniques for organ procurement from donation after cardiac death (DCD),and to evaluate post-transplant outcomes.Methods In this retrospective study,clinical data of 26 cases of DCD organ procurements were analyzed through either epigastric multivisceral organ harvesting or solitary organ harvesting.Results Twenty livers,44 kidneys and 2 multivisceral grafts were procured,followed by 24 cases of liver transplantation,42 cases of kidney transplantation,and 2 cases of multivisceral transplantation.The operations were successful and all transplanted organs were satisfactorily recovered with no primary nonfunction or other complications observed.Conclusion Our methods and techniques for organ procurement from DCD donors require experienced surgery skills,while can maximatily shorten donor organ ischemic time,guarantee procurement of high quality of organs and ensure a favourable transplant outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of immunosuppressive regimen with daclizumab induction therapy. MethodsIn study group, 139 patients received immunosuppressive regimen with daclizumab induction therapy. In historical control group, 106 recipients received immunosuppressive regimen without daclizumab induction therapy. All patients were followed up at least for 1year. The acute rejection episodes, infectious and metabolic complications at one month and one year post-transplantation were compared between two groups.ResultsThe one-month incidence of acute rejection, new-onset diabetes mellitus, hypertension and infection was 7. 9 ％, 33. 8 ％, 21.6 ％ and 22. 3 ％, respectively in study group, as compared with 15. 1 ％, 72. 6 0％, 40. 6 ％ and 43. 4 ％, respectively in control group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The one-year incidence of acute rejection, new-onset diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia was 10. 8 ％,5. 0 ％ ,4. 3 ％ and 7. 9 ％, respectively in study group, as compared with 19. 8 ％, 9. 4 ％, 8. 5 ％ and 14. 2 ％, respectively in control group (P＜0. 05). The one-year survival rate was comparable between two groups (P＞0. 05). ConclusionThe immunosuppressive regimen with daclizumab can enable early steroid withdrawal, significantly reduce acute rejection rate and various side effects mediated by longterm steroids use.

Objective To compare the effects of combined ‘en bloc' liver-pancreas transplantation (LPT) with portal vein drainage and simultaneous combined kidney-pancreas transplantation (KPT) with systemic venous drainage on the pancreatic endocrine function and related metabolism.Methods Four LPT patients and 6 KPT ones with normal hepato-renal function, good quality of life and periodic follow-up received measurement of serum insulin, insulin provocation test, fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, triglyceride and total cholesterol; and their laboratory test parameters were compared and analyzed.Results In KPT group, 2-h insulin level, C-peptide level and total cholesterol level were significantly higher at 6th month, 3rd and 6th month postoperation (all P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in other parameters between the two groups at 6th month after operation.Conclusion Either KPT or LPT can achieve excellent endocrine function, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; and the results show that portal venous drainage does not offer major metabolic advantages within 6 months after operation.

Objective To summarize the experience with salvage liver transplantation for patients with recurrent hetaptocellular carcinoma(HCC)after primary liver resection.Methods From 2004 to 2008,376 patients with HCC received liver transplantation in our single center.Among these patients,36 (9.6 %)underwent salvage liver transplantation after primary liver curative resection due to intrahepatic recurrence.There were 29 males and 7 females with the mean age of 46 years old.Sixteen received right lobectomy,10 received left lobectomy and the others received sectionectomy or segmentectomy.As a control group for comparison,we used clinical data of the 147 patients who underwent primary OLT for HCC within Milan Criteria.Results The mean interval between initial liver resection and salvage transplantation was 34.9±16.2 months(1-63 months).Intraoperative bleeding volume,transfusion volume and operative time in the salvage group were significantly different from those in control group (P<0.05).There were no significant difference in post-operative complications,tumor recurrence rate,survival rate and tumor-free survival between these two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion In comparison with primary OLT,although salvage liver transplantation would increase the operation difficulties,it still remains a good option for patients with HCC recurrence after curative resection.