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Liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis at Stanford University

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Abstract

Background. To review the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 26 patients evaluated for liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure at Stanford University and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in an attempt to identify risk factors and prognostic predictors of survival.Methods. A retrospective review of the records of 26 consecutive patients who were evaluated for possible liver transplantation for acute liver failure from May 1, 1995, to January 1, 2000. Pretransplant patient demographics and clinical characteristics were collected, and the data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results. Clinical assessment of encephalopathy did not predict outcome. Patients with abnormal computed tomography (CT) of the brain had a twofold increase in mortality compared with those patients with normal studies (p = 0.03). Patients requiring mechanical ventilation and continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) also had a poor prognosis.Conclusion. Predictors of poor outcome after fulminant hepatic failure include abnormal CT scan, mechanical ventilation, and requirement for hemofiltration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Transplantation, Stanford University Medical Center, 750 Welch Rd., Suite 319, 94304, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Amy Lu, Humberto Monge, Kenneth Drazan, Maria Millan & Carlos O. Esquivel

Authors
  1. Amy Lu
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  2. Humberto Monge
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  3. Kenneth Drazan
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  4. Maria Millan
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  5. Carlos O. Esquivel
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Lu, A., Monge, H., Drazan, K. et al. Liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis at Stanford University. J Gastroenterol 37 (Suppl 13), 82–87 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02990106

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