Liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure in infancy: a single center experience

Pediatr Transplant. 2009 Nov;13(7):838-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2008.01071.x. Epub 2008 Nov 1.

Abstract

FHF is characterized by a high percentage of unknown causes leading to acute liver failure and furthermore by an increased morbidity and mortality prior to and post-Ltx. In different transplant centers, the reasons leading to FHF differ significantly as well as outcome. We report our single center experience with 30 pediatric patients receiving a liver transplant for FHF, out of a total of 83 children presenting with FHF. The time to transfer patients to the transplant center after the diagnosis of FHF was long, with a median of 14 days (Ltx group) and 12 days (controls), respectively. In nearly half of the patients (n = 14) in the Ltx group, we were not able to establish an exact diagnosis prior to Ltx: 50% suffered from encephalopathy, and 13 patients were treated in the intensive care unit prior to transplant. Because of the availability of different surgical techniques, all children received a timely transplant [split (n = 18), living donor (n = 9), whole organ (n = 2), and reduced liver (n = 1)]. Patient survival was 93.4%, and graft survival was 83.4% for at least one yr follow-up. Severe complications following Ltx included three cases with aplastic anemia and one child suffering from systemic mitochondrial depletion syndrome. The survival of patients treated medically was 83%. We conclude that a strong focus should be made on early referral to a specialized center and on improvement of diagnostic tools to timely detect the underlying reason for FHF. Results following Ltx for FHF are good.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Graft Survival
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liver Failure, Acute / therapy*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome