Long term outcomes after liver transplantation are major determinants of quality of life and of the value of this heroic treatment. As short term outcomes are excellent, our community is turning to take a harder look at long term outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to review these outcomes, and highlight proposed treatments, as well as pressing topics needing to be studied. A systemic review of the English literature was carried in PubMed, covering all papers addressing long term outcomes in pediatric liver transplant from 2000-2013. Late outcomes after pediatric liver transplant affect the liver graft in the form of chronic liver dysfunction. The causes include rejection particularly humoral rejection, but also de novo autoimmune hepatitis, and recurrent disease. The metabolic syndrome is a major factor in long term cardiovascular complication risk. Secondary infections, kidney dysfunction and malignancy remain a reality of those patients. There is growing evidence of late cognitive and executive function delays affecting daily life productivity as well as likely adherence. Finally, despite a good health status, quality of life measures are comparable to those of children with chronic diseases. Long term outcomes are the new frontier in pediatric liver transplantation. Much is needed to improve graft survival, but also to avoid systemic morbidities from long term immunosuppression. Quality of life is a new inclusive measure that will require interventions and innovative approaches respectful not only on the patients but also of their social circle.
Child ; Chronic Disease ; Coinfection ; Efficiency ; Executive Function ; Graft Survival ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Quality of Life ; Transplants

Purpose: Limited data exist regarding outcome and morbidity associated with portosystemic shunts in the pediatric transplant population. Our study assesses the outcomes of pediatric patients who underwent a portosystemic shunt procedure, both with and without liver transplantation (LT). Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients aged 0–19 years who underwent shunt placement between 2003 and 2017 at a tertiary care center.The analysis included cases of shunt placement with or without LT. Results: A total of 13 pediatric patients were included in the study with median age of 8.8 years. Among the cases, 11 out of 13 (84.6%) underwent splenorenal shunt, 1 (7.7%) underwent a mesocaval shunt, and another 1 (7.7%) underwent a Modified Rex (mesoportal) shunt. Additionally, 5 out of 13 (38.5%) patients had LT, with 4 out of 5 (80.0%) receiving the transplant before shunt placement, and 1 out of 5 (20.0%) receiving it after shunt placement.Gastrointestinal bleeding resulting from portal hypertension was the indication in all cases.A total of 10 complications were reported in 5 patients; the most common complication was anemia in 3 (23.1%) patients. At the most recent follow-up visit, the shunts were functional without encephalopathy, and no deaths were reported. Conclusion Shunt placement plays a crucial role in the management of patients with portal hypertension. Our study demonstrates favorable long-term outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent shunt placement. Long term shunt outcomes were similar and unremarkable in patients with LT and without LT.