Prevention and treatment of postoperative complications in orthotopic liver transplantation

Objective To investigate the common reasons and prevention and treatment of postoperative complications in orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT).Methods Data of 18 patients undergoing OLT in recent 1 year were collected and retrospectively analyzed.Results OLT was performed in 13 patients with terminal liver cirrhosis,2 with Caroli's disease,1 with Budd-Chairi's syndrome and 2 with primary liver cancer.A total of 15 cases times of complications occurred postoperatively,including secondary abdominal cavity bleeding(n=3),se- vere infection of ascites(n=1),stress gastie ulcer with bleeding and perforation(n=1),biliary fistula(n=1), pulmonary infection(n=4),diffuse oral ulcer(n=3)and fungal infection(n=2).Three patients died postoper- atively from pulmonary fungal infection,stress ulcer and ascites infection,respectively.Another patient died of re- currence of liver cancer 5 months after the operation.The other 14 patients are still alive and 3 of them have sur- vived for over 1 year.Conclusion Liver cirrhosis is the main indication for liver transplantation.The patients with liver cirrhosis usually exhibit liver disfunction,coagulopathy,malnutrition and poor immune functions.It is impor- tant to pay close attention to periopetafive improvement of coagulative capacity,control of infections and support of nutrition in these patients.Good surgical technique is the key factor for preventing vascular complications.