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Background: Pediatric liver transplantation is a very resource-intensive therapy. This study aimed to identify the changes made between two epochs of management and analyze their influence on length of stay (LOS)., Methods: Data from a single center were obtained from the liver transplant and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) databases for 336 transplants (282 children) performed between 2000 and 2021. Transplants were analyzed in two epochs, before and after July 2012, representing a change in postoperative anticoagulation management. Differences in graft recipient demographics and perioperative management factors were compared between epochs. Multivariate regression was performed to identify the complications that correlated most strongly with hospital LOS., Results: There was a difference in hospital LOS between Epoch 1 (Median = 31.7 days) and Epoch 2 (Median = 26.3 days) (p < 0.001), but not in PICU LOS (E1 Median = 7.3 days, E2 Median = 7.4 days; p = 0.792). Epoch 2 saw increased use of split grafts (60.6% of total), decreased pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score at transplant (Average = 16.7; p < 0.001), decreased invasive ventilation time (Average = 4.48 days; p < 0.001), and decreased hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) rates (E1 = 14.4%, E2 = 4.3%; p < 0.001) without an associated increase in bleeding rates., Conclusions: Hospital LOS has reduced in Epoch 2 due to refinements in intraoperative and postoperative management. There is increased emphasis on early extubation and increased use of noninvasive ventilatory techniques in Epoch 2. Split grafts have effectively expanded our graft donor pool and reduced transplant waitlist times., (© 2024 The Author(s). Pediatric Transplantation published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

We aimed to assess the incidence of HAT over three eras following implementation of microvascular techniques and a customized anticoagulation protocol in a predominantly cadaveric split liver transplant program. We retrospectively reviewed pediatric liver transplants performed between April 1986 and 2016 and analyzed the incidence HAT over three eras. In E1, 1986-2008, each patient received a standard dose of 5 U/kg/h of heparin and coagulation profiles normalized passively. In E2, 2008-2012, microvascular techniques were introduced. In E3, 2012-2016, in addition, a customized anticoagulation protocol was introduced which included replacement of antithrombin 3, protein C and S, and early heparinization. A total of 317 liver transplants were completed during the study period, with a median age of 31.7 months. In E1, 22% of grafts were cadaveric in situ split grafts, while the second and third eras used split grafts in 59.0% and 64.9% of cases, respectively. HAT occurred in 9.5% in the first era, 11.5% (P=.661) in the second, and dropped to 1.8% in the third era (P=.043). A routine anticoagulation protocol has significantly reduced the incidence of HAT post-liver transplantation in children in a predominantly cadaveric in situ split liver transplant program., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to examine the role of HA flow abnormalities in the development of biliary strictures following split liver transplants. Data was obtained from a prospective data base of all patients undergoing split liver transplants from 2000-2008 with a follow up time of at least six months. Forty-six transplants were performed in 44 patients. Fourteen of 46 developed strictures of whom four were intrahepatic and 10 anastomotic. Nine of 14 with strictures had either hepatic artery thromobosis (HAT, four) or abnormalities of HA flow identified by routine Doppler ultrasound (5) compared with two of 32 without strictures (p < 0.02, (one temporary loss of flow and one HA aneurysm). There were no differences between the stricture and non stricture group with regard to age or weight at transplant, donor age, cold and warm ischemia times or intraoperative portal vein flow though there was a significant decrease in intraoperative HA flow in the stricture group. In conclusion, both HAT and hepatic artery flow abnormalities are associated with biliary strictures in the majority of split liver transplants. However, unrecognised abnormalities in HA flow and or other factors are likely to contribute., ((c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Background: Mycotic aneurysm of the hepatic artery is a rare complication of liver transplantation, occurring in 0% to 3% of patients and having a mortality of around 30%. We present a unique report of mycotic aneurysms of the hepatic artery following liver transplantation in children., Methods and Results: A chart review of the 194 patients who underwent a liver transplantation over a 21-year period revealed 2 patients who developed a mycotic aneurysm of the hepatic artery. The first patient died due to rupture prior to diagnosis. The second patient was treated successfully using radiological coil embolization, followed by surgical excision with hepatic artery ligation and antibiotic therapy., Conclusions: Early diagnosis and prompt multidisciplinary treatment is crucial to optimize treatment in this condition.