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Background: The biliary complications (BC) have been always considered the "Achilles' heel" of liver transplantation (LT), being one of the leading causes of postoperative morbidity., Aim: To analyse predictors of BC, by monitoring in the peripheral blood the biomarkers involved in the inflammation and hepatic fibrosis, such as the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP 2, 9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP1), the interleukins (IL 2, 8), alfa-TNF, the endothelins and their receptors., Methods: Thirty LT patients were followed-up prospectively for 5 years. The mRNA for the following biomarkers was quantified in the peripheral blood by qRTPCR and protein expression investigated by ELISA: MMP 2, 9, TIMP1, IL 2, IL 8, TNF-alfa, and endothelins and their receptors., Results: Five patients developed anastomotic stenosis (AS). There was no difference regarding mRNA levels for all studied genes between AS and non-AS patients. Two cytokines were significantly different: pre-LT TNF alpha was higher in the non-AS group and post-LT endothelin-1 at day 7 and month 3 were higher in the AS group. There was a trend for lower levels of serum cytokines for patients without AS compared to patients with AS., Conclusion: BC play an important role in the patients' postoperative morbidity and molecular biomarkers prediction should improve their early recognition and treatment.

Background/aims: Despite various surgical techniques, biliary tract complications (BC) remain a major source of morbidity after liver transplantation (LT)., Methodology: Between April 2000 and November 2008, 523 LTs in 487 recipients (36 re transplantations) were performed as follows: 402 whole deceased donor graft LTs, and 121 partial liver transplantation: 75 living donor liver transplantation, 42 split liver transplantation, and 4 reduced size liver transplantation., Results: Mean follow-up period was 935 days (range 1-3174), 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates were 78.7% 74.2% and 74.2%, respectively. One hundred twenty seven patients--from 487 (26%), developed (after 135 LT) 150 singular BC (in total were 181 BC). Sixty four (of 85) bile leaks (75.29%) were early BC, while 53 (of 63) stenosis (84.1%) were late BC. BC does not influenced significantly patients and graft survival (p > 0.6). From 102 deaths, 8 were due to BC (1.6%) and in only 14 (2.67%) graft loss of 523 LT BC had the main role. Multiple ducts, multiple biliary anastomosis and RYHJ determine BC if compared to a single duct graft. Moreover, ductoplasty, graft type and HAT were independent risk factors., Conclusion: Biliary complications are common after LT but are rarely an isolated cause of death.

Introduction: Initially considered experimental, liver transplantation (LT) has become the treatment of choice for the patients with end-stage liver diseases., Material and Methods: Between April 2000 and October 2009, 200 LTs (10 reLTs) were performed in 190 patients, this study being retrospective. There were transplanted 110 men and 80 women, 159 adults and 31 children with the age between 1 and 64 years old (mean age--39.9). The main indication in the adult group was represented by viral cirrhosis, while the pediatric series the etiology was mainly glycogenosis and biliary atresia. There were performed 143 whole graft LTs, 46 living donor LTs, 6 split LTs, 4 reduced LTs and one domino LT RESULTS: The postoperative survival was 90% (170 patients). The patient and graft one-year and five-year survivals were 76.9%, 73.6% and 71%, 68.2%, respectively. The early complications occurred in 127 patients (67%). The late complications were recorded in 71 patients (37.3%). The intraoperative and early postoperative mortality rate was 9.5% (18 patients)., Conclusions: The Romanian liver transplantation program from Fundeni includes all types of current surgical techniques and the results are comparable with those from other international centers.

A 46-yr-old female with hepatocellular carcinoma and severe hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis received a domino liver graft from a 25-yr-old female with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HFHC) in September 2001. Hypercholesterolemia occurred in the graft recipient within one yr after transplantation and was partially controlled by atorvastatin. Three yr after transplantation, an autologous CD34(+) cell transplantation was performed in order to better control the hypercholesterolemia. Only preliminary results of this domino liver transplantation (DLT) were published in 2003, without a long-term analysis of the hypercholesterolemic effects in recipient. Subsequent to DLT, the average plasma cholesterol level in the domino donor rapidly normalized and seven yr after had a value of 182 mg/dL. After seven-yr follow-up, the domino recipient has no hepatocarcinoma recurrence. Moreover, no signs of cardiovascular or atherosclerotic lesions were noted despite an elevated plasma cholesterol level (339 mg/dL after seven yr of follow-up) resistant to drug therapy and stem cell autotransplantation. In conclusion, DLT using a liver graft from a patient with HFHC provides a viable option for marginal recipients.

Background: HBV in liver transplant (LT) patients is associated with good outcomes and the challenges are primarily focused around optimizing prophylactic regimens with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and minimizing related costs., Aim: To identify recurrence rates in patients transplanted for HBV or HBV+HDV infection in whom a combined "on demand" low-dose HBIG was used, maintaining low anti-HBs titres (not below 50 IU/L)., Methods: Medical records of 42 patients transplanted for HBV or HBV+HDV induced cirrhosis between April 2000 and September 2007 at Fundeni Clinical Institute were analyzed. Patients received immunoprophylaxis with lamivudine and HBIG (10,000 IU within anhepatic phase and daily within the first postoperative week, followed by 2,500 IU on demand). HBV recurrence rates and survival during follow-up were evaluated using the Kaplan Meier method., Results: HBV recurrence rate was 4.8% after a median of 1.8 years. Three year patient survival rate was 70%. None of the patients died due to liver failure related to HBV recurrence. Using our "on demand" low-dose administration of HBIG, the total mean cost for HBIG and lamivudine for patient per month of survival was 598.3 Eur. The projected monthly cost for the "ideal" schedule/patient was 2,017 Eur., Conclusion: Individualization of immunoprophylaxis after LT for HBV related disease according to the lowest protective anti-HBs titers in combination with lamivudine is probably the best approach for non-replicative pre-LT patients in terms of costs and efficacy.

The role of split-liver transplantation (SLT) for two adult recipients is still a matter of debate, and no agreement exists on indications, surgical techniques, and results. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the outcome of our series of SLT. From May 1999 to December 2006, 16 patients underwent SLT at our unit. We used 9 full right grafts (segments 5-8) and 7 full left grafts (segments 1-4). The splitting procedure was always carried out in situ with a fully perfused liver. Postoperative complications were recorded in 8 (50%) patients: 5 (55%) in full right grafts and 3 (43%) in full left grafts. No one was retransplanted. After a median follow-up of 55.82 months (range, 0.4-91.2), 5 (31%) patients died, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rate for patients and grafts was 69%. We considered as a control group for the global outcome 232 whole liver transplantations performed at our unit in the same period of time. Postoperative complications were recorded in 53 (23%) patients, and after a median follow-up of 57.37 months (mean, 55.11; range, 1-102.83), the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall patient survival was 87%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. In conclusion, SLT for two adult recipients is a technically demanding procedure that requires complex logistics and surgical teams experienced in both liver resection and transplantation. Although the reported rate of survival might be adequate for such a procedure, more efforts have to be made to improve the short-term outcome, which is inadequate in our opinion. The true feasibility of SLT for two adults has to be considered as still under investigation.

Background/aims: We present our technical version of pancreaticoduodenectomy by posterior approach that enables a complete dissection of the right side of the mesenteric superior artery and of the portal vein, as well as a complete excision of the retroportal pancreatic process (or lamina), and report the preliminary outcomes of the first 10 selected patients., Methodology: Between 1 December 2005 and 1 March 2006 10 patients (7 males and 3 females) with a mean age of 60.6 years (range 45-81 years) were operated on using this technique. The patients were diagnosed with carcinoma of the pancreatic head (8 cases), ampullary carcinoma (1 case), and carcinoma of the distal part of the common bile duct (1 case). Invasion of the portal vein occurred in 2 of the 8 cases of carcinoma of the pancreatic head., Results: No significant intraoperative incident was recorded. The mean operative time was 225 minutes (ranging between 180 and 240 minutes) and the mean blood loss was 372,25cc (range 150-800cc). Two cases of carcinoma of the pancreatic head that had a segmental resection of the portal vein needed vascular reconstruction which was performed by Goretex graft interpositing. The pylorus-preserving procedure was used in 2 cases (ampullary carcinoma, and carcinoma of the distal part of the common bile duct, respectively). Postoperative complications consisted of intraabdominal hemorrhage from an arterial source of the pancreatic capsule (on the day of the operation necessitating reoperation for hemostasis) in one case, and pancreatic fistula (that required conservative treatment) in another case. No postoperative diarrhea, delayed gastric emptying episodes or postoperative deaths were recorded. There were no postoperative deaths. The mean length of hospitalization was 12.2 days (range 10-24 days)., Conclusions: The posterior approach in pancreaticoduodenectomy offers an early selection of patients during the operation (in terms of resectability). As compared to the standard procedure, it enables an adequate lymphadenectomy that can be safely performed (by early dissection and isolation of the superior mesenteric artery), and avoids possible intraoperative accidents secondary to anatomical arterial abnormalities. This approach is particularly recommended in cases with portal vein invasion because it allows a "no-touch" resection.