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Thrombocytopenia is frequently present in patients with cirrhosis. The effect of portal decompression on thrombocytopenia using a variety of shunt procedures has been contradictory. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been proposed as a less invasive procedure for portal decompression, mainly for control of variceal bleeding or intractable ascites. Its effect on thrombocytopenia has not been defined yet. The aim of this review is to define the effect of TIPS on patients with cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia. Sixty-two patients who underwent TIPS at the University of Pittsburgh and survived without transplant for more than two months were included. Platelet count was determined prior to TIPS as well as at one-week, one-month, and three-month intervals after TIPS. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia prior to TIPS was 49%. TIPS had no effect on thrombocytopenia even when the portosystemic gradient was reduced to less than 12 mm Hg. In conclusion, portal decompression after TIPS did not affect the degree of thrombocytopenia.

Serum urate and the renal handling of urate were measured in 37 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and in normal sex- and age-matched subjects. Serum urate was increased in the hyperparathyroid group compared to the control group (6.23 +/- 1.46 versus 4.64 +/- 1.24 mg/100 ml; p less than 0.005), whereas the fractional excretion of urate was decreased in hyperparathyroid patients compared to the controls (6.80 +/- 2.69 versus 8.73 +/- 3.47%; p less than 0.005). Twenty-four of these hyperparathyroid patients were studied 6 months after surgical correction of their disease. Serum urate decreased after surgery (5.14 +/- 1.65 mg/100 ml) compared to the preoperative state (5.92 +/- 1.46 mg/100 ml) and was no longer different from the normal values. The possible mechanisms of hyperuricemia associated with the hyperparathyroid state are discussed.

BackgroundOrgan shortage has resulted in greater emphasis on partial liver transplantation (PLT) as an alternative to whole-organ liver transplantation.MethodsThis study was conducted to assess outcomes in PLT and to compare outcomes of deceased donor split-liver transplantation (DD-SLT) and live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in adults transplanted in the USA using data reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing in the era of Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores.ResultsBetween 2002 and 2009, 2272 PLTs were performed in the USA; these represented 5.3% of all liver transplants carried out in the country and included 557 (24.5%) DD-SLT and 1715 LDLT (75.5%) procedures. The most significant differences between the DD-SLT and LDLT groups related to mean MELD scores, which were lower in LDLT recipients (14.5 vs. 20.9; P < 0.001), mean recipient age, which was lower in the LDLT group (50.7 years vs. 52.8 years; P < 0.001), and mean donor age, which was lower in the DD-SLT group (23.0 years vs. 37.3 years; P < 0.001). Allograft survival was comparable between the two groups (P= 0.438), but patient survival after LDLT was better (P= 0.04). In Cox regression analysis, LDLT was associated with better allograft (hazards ratio [HR]= 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.630–0.791; P < 0.0001) and patient (HR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.558–0.644; P < 0.0001) survival than DD-SLT.ConclusionsPartial liver transplantation represents a potentially underutilized resource in the USA. Despite the differences in donor and recipient characteristics, LDLT is associated with better allograft and patient survival than DD-SLT. A different allocation system for DD-SLT allografts that takes into consideration cold ischaemia time and recipient MELD score should be considered.

Objectives: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an accepted treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. To minimize risk to the donor, left lobe (LL) LDLT may be an ideal option in adult LDLT. Methods: This study assessed the outcomes of LL-LDLT compared with right lobe (RL) LDLT in adults (1998-2010) as reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Results: A total of 2844 recipients of LDLT were identified. Of these, 2690 (94.6%) underwent RL-LDLT and 154 (5.4%) underwent LL-LDLT. A recent increase in the number of LL-LDLTs was noted: average numbers of LL-LDLTs per year were 5.2 during 1998-2003 and 19.4 during 2004-2010. Compared with RL-LDLT recipients, LL-LDLT recipients were younger (mean age: 50.5 years vs. 47.0 years), had a lower body mass index (BMI) (mean BMI: 24.5 kg/m 2 vs. 26.8 kg/m 2), and were more likely to be female (64.6% vs. 41.9%). Donors in LL-LDLT had a higher BMI (mean BMI: 29.4 kg/m 2 vs. 26.5 kg/m 2) and were less likely to be female (30.9% vs. 48.1%). Recipients of LL-LDLT had a longer mean length of stay (24.9 days vs. 18.2 days) and higher retransplantation rates (20.3% vs. 10.9%). Allograft survival in LL-LDLT was significantly lower than in RL-LDLT and there was a trend towards inferior patient survival. In Cox regression analysis, LL-LDLT was found to be associated with an increased risk for allograft failure [hazard ratio (HR): 2.39)] and inferior patient survival (HR: 1.86). Conclusions: The number of LL-LDLTs has increased in recent years. © 2012 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

Many transplant programs are averse to evaluate potential kidney donors with preferences against accepting human blood products. We examined the donor and graft outcomes between our transfusion-consenting (TC) and transfusion-refusing (TR) live kidney donors to determine whether a functional or survival disadvantage resulted from the disallowance of blood product transfusion during live donor (LD) nephrectomy. From July, 1999 to August, 2005, 82 live donor nephrectomies were performed, eight of who were TR donors (10%). Blood conservation techniques were utilized in TR donors. Demographics, surgical and functional outcomes, admission and discharge hematocrit, and creatinine were compared between TC and TR donors. No donor mortalities occurred. Two TC donors received blood transfusions (2.7%), and each study group experienced a single

Background: Liver transplantation is currently the standard of care for patients with end stage liver disease. However due to the cadaveric organ shortage, live donor liver transplantation (LDLT), has been recently introduced as a potential solution. We analyzed and support our initial experience with this procedure at USC. Material and Methods: From September 1998 until July 2000, a total of 27 patients underwent LDLT at USC University Hospital and Los Angeles Children's Hospital. There were 12 children with the median age of 10 months (4-114) and 15 adults with the median age of 56 years (35-65). The most common indication for transplantation was biliary atresia for children and hepatitis C for adults. Results: All donors did well postoperatively; the median postoperative stay was five days (5-7) for left lateral segmentectomy and seven days (4-12) for lobar donation. None of the donors required blood transfusion, re-operation or postoperative invasive procedure. However, five of them (18%) experienced minor complications. The survival rate in pediatric patients was 100% and only one graft was lost at nine months due to rejection. Two adult recipients died in the postoperative period, one from graft non-function and one from necrotizing fascitis. 37% of adult recipients experienced postoperative complications, mainly related to biliary reconstruction. Also 26% of the recipients underwent re-operation for some of these complications. Conclusion: LDLT is an excellent alternative to cadaveric transplantation with excellent results in the pediatric population. However, in adult patients it still carries a significant complication rate and it should be used with caution.