Hepatic Transplants in Espirito Santo State, Brazil

Background. The Meridional Hospital Liver transplant unit is the only one active in all Espirito 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).