Evaluation of liver transplantation recipients in Santa Catarina state from August, 2002, until July, 2004: First twenty-five cases of a new procedure in our state

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to show results of the first liver transplantation surgeries in the State of Santa Catarina, performed at the Santa Isabel Hospital, Blumenau city. Methods: 25 transplants were performed in 24 patients in different kinds of liver disease in the end-stage from August, 2002 up to July, 2004. It was a transversal and quantitative study that searched the medical records of the transplantation date. It was also searched the data of other hospital admissions after the transplant. It was considered those admissions occurred up to the date of the data collection (September and October, 2005). Results: The mean age of patients was 47.24. The male sex was predominant (72%, 18 cases). After three months patient’s survival was 87.5%, and 71% after one year. The prevailing cause of the liver insufficiency was C hepatitis associated to alcoholic liver disease (24%), and C hepatitis (alone), also with 24% prevalence. The most common after-surgery complication was infection (17 cases). Just one retransplantation was performed, due to hepatic artery thrombosis. Conclusion: The aim of this review was to present results of liver transplantations performed out of the major centers with a trend to present similar results as top centers worldwide.