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S Iwatsuki

Publications and source records attributed to S Iwatsuki.

243 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Medical aspects of liver transplantation.

The methods used to screen prospective candidates for orthotopic liver transplantation are described. Both the indication and the contraindications for the procedure are discussed. The timing of the procedure during the course of an individual candidate's liver disease is also discussed. Additionally, the institutional requirements of a liver transplant center are identified. Finally, the problems experienced by a liver transplant patient and his physician during the postoperative period are identified and discussed.

Graft Rejection↗

Orthotopic liver transplantation for acute and subacute hepatic failure in adults.

The role of liver transplantation in 29 patients with fulminant and subacute hepatic failure due to a variety of different causes was examined by comparing the outcome and a variety of "hospitalization" variables. Transplanted patients (n = 13) were more likely to survive (p less than 0.05), were younger (p less than 0.05) and spent more time in the hospital (p less than 0.025) than did those who were not transplanted (n = 16). Despite spending a much longer time in the hospital, transplanted patients spent less time in the intensive care unit (p less than 0.05) in coma (p less than 0.01) and on a respirator (p less than 0.01) than did those not transplanted. Most importantly, the survival rate for transplanted patients was significantly improved (p less than 0.05) as compared to those not transplanted. We conclude that liver transplantation can be applied successfully to the difficult clinical problem of fulminant and subacute hepatic failure.

Acute Disease↗

Cyclosporine absorption following orthotopic liver transplantation.

Blood concentrations of cyclosporine were determined in adult and pediatric patients following orthotopic liver transplantation to quantitate cyclosporine blood clearance and oral absorption. Seventeen bioavailability studies were performed following transplantation surgery in nine children and seven adults. The intravenous cyclosporine study was performed following an average dose of 2.1 mg/kg. The patients were again studied when they received the same intravenous dose plus an oral dose of cyclosporine of 8.6 mg/kg or an oral dose alone. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for cyclosporine using high-performance liquid chromatography. Cyclosporine blood clearance ranged from 29 to 203 mL/min (1.9-21.5 mL/min/kg) in children and from 253 to 680 mL/min (3.2-7.6 mL/min/kg) in adults. The mean cyclosporine clearance value was 9.3 mL/min/kg in the pediatric patients and 5.5 mL/min/kg in the adults. Cyclosporine bioavailability was less than 5% in six studies on five pediatric patients in the immediate postoperative period. The bioavailability varied from 8% to 60% in adult liver transplant patients (mean, 27%). We conclude that: cyclosporine clearance is highly variable between patients, pediatric patients clear the drug more rapidly than adults and therefore need a higher cyclosporine dose on a body weight basis, cyclosporine is poorly and variably absorbed in liver transplant patients, and cyclosporine blood concentration monitoring is essential following orthotopic liver transplantation.

Adult↗

Role of liver transplantation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The results obtained by liver transplantation (TX) (n = 105) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were compared with those achieved by hepatic resection (HX) (n = 76). Overall 1- to 5-year survival rates after TX were 66%, 49%, 39%, 36%, and 36%, and those after HX were 71%, 55%, 47%, 37%, and 33%, respectively. The survival rates after TX and HX correlated well with pTNM stages, and the overall survival rates were similar in each stage between the TX and the HX group. However, when HCC was associated with cirrhosis of the liver, the survival rates after TX were significantly higher than those after HX at each stage of pTNM classification. Tumor recurrence rate was high both after TX (43%) and HX (50%), particularly in stage IV-A. Tumor recurrence rate was significantly lower after TX than after HX in HCCs of stages II and III. Liver TX has established its definite role in the treatment of HCC, particularly in the presence of hepatic impairment or cirrhosis of the liver.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Total hepatectomy plus liver transplantation was performed on 105 patients considered unsuitable for liver resection. Postoperative 5-year actuarial survivals correlated with the pathologic stage of the tumor: stage I 75%, stage II 68%, stage III 52.1%, and stage IVA 11%. The overall 5-year survival for all patients was 36%. Nodal disease, bilobar tumor, and macroscopic venous invasion were significant poor-prognosis features. In addition, 12 patients with pT4N1M0 lesions (also stage IVA) had hepatectomy plus more extensive en bloc regional resection (Whipple procedure or cluster resection) plus transplantation in an effort to prevent local recurrence. Only 2 of these 12 patients (16.7%) are alive and free of disease after 2 years. Seven patients (58%) have died from tumor recurrence usually originating from distant metastases an average of 10.6 months after transplantation. Successful transplantation for hepatoma depends on screening programs to identify early stage disease. Successful outcome of transplantation for late stage disease, which includes most of the patients in our series, awaits the development of neoadjuvant therapy to control distant microscopic metastases, which are almost certainly present though not apparent at the time of transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Cholangiocarcinoma in sclerosing cholangitis. The role of liver transplantation.

Our experience with patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation for sclerosing cholangitis at the University of Pittsburgh Health Center between March 1980 and March 1988 is reported here. Ten patients had an associated cholangiocarcinoma. Six of these patients died of recurrent, disseminated cancer, usually before one year. One patient died of sepsis, while three are alive and apparently free of tumor four months to almost two years later. Pre-operative identification of a possible cholangiocarcinoma and complete resection are of crucial importance. Adjuvant therapy, especially pre-transplant radiation with a prophylactic purpose is still being evaluated.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Orthotopic liver transplantation for fulminant and subacute hepatic failure.

Fulminant and subacute hepatitis are conditions characterized by rapid liver failure, which can lead to death in 80 to more than 95% of the cases with medical supportive care only. The etiology can be viral, drug-, or other chemical-induced, metabolic, etc. Orthotopic liver transplantation emerged during the 1980s as a powerful means for dealing with these diseases. The existence of this therapeutic modality has brought about major changes in the diagnosis, patient selection, treatment, and outlook for fulminant/subacute liver failure. The authors present the results of orthotopic liver transplantation for the treatment of 47 cases of acute/subacute hepatic insufficiency at the University of Pittsburgh between March 1980 and July 1987. The results of this series demonstrate that liver transplantation is the most effective means for treating this condition.

Acute Disease↗

Surgical complications in human orthotopic liver transplantation.

Between March 1, 1980 and December 31, 1984, 393 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLT) were performed in 313 consecutive recipients. Technical complications were responsible for a substantial morbidity (41/393 allograft loss--10.4%) and mortality (26/313 patient loss--8.3%). Failure of the biliary tract reconstruction, mainly expressed as leakage and obstruction, is the most frequent complication of OLT (52/393 grafts--13.2%). Biliary tract complication (BTC) was directly responsible for 5 deaths (9.6%). Reliance upon standardized methods of direct duct-to duct repair with T-tube (CC-T) and Roux-Y choledocho-jejunostomy (RYCH-J), appropriate postoperative investigation and treatment will reduce morbidity and mortality of BTC. A complicated CC-T will be conversed to a RYCH-J; a complicated RYCH-J needs surgical correction. Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) has become the "Achilles heel" of OLT. HAT is expressed by three different patterns: fulminant hepatic necrosis, delayed bile leakage and relapsing bacteremia. Diagnosed in 27 grafts (6.8%), HAT was responsible for 16 deaths (16/25 pat: 64%). The only chance to rescue patients presenting HAT is an early diagnosis and prompt retransplantation before occurrence of septic complications. Aneurysm of the hepatic arterial supply (4/393 grafts--1%) also needs aggressive surgery because of the high rate of fatal rupture (3/4 pat--75%). The incidence of thrombosis of the reconstructed portal vein (PVT) was only 2.2% (7 pat.), three inferior vena caval thromboses (0.9%) (CVT) were diagnosed after OLT. Four of the 7 patients whose portal veins clotted are alive. Three have their original graft. One patient, presenting both PVT and CVT, was rescued by prompt retransplantation. PVT was responsible for 3 patient (3/7 pat--42.8%) and 4 graft losses (4/7 pat--57%). The rate of graft (3/3) and patient loss (2/3) was even higher after CVT.

Aneurysm↗