Analysis of patients with acute liver failure after liver surgery: Single center experience

Abstract

Liver transplantation is the lifesaving treatment option for rare acute liver failure that develops due to iatrogenic bile duct injuries or after major hepatectomy. The aim of the study is to analyze patients with acute liver failure due to iatrogenic bile duct injury or major hepatectomy on the waiting list for emergency liver transplantation. Between the years 2011-2020, 9 patients (5 female/4 male; median age: 30 years old, (range:4-63 years)) with acute liver failure related to bile duct injury or major hepatectomy for whom urgent liver transplantation was planned were included in this study. Eight patients were accepted for urgent liver transplantation. Acute liver failure developed in 6 patients due to hepatoduodenal ligament injury during cholecystectomy, and in 3 patients due to major hepatectomy. The patients were listed for urgent transplantation within the mean of 1.5 days (range:0-3 days) after acute liver failure. Two patients had living donor and 1 patient had cadaveric liver transplantation. Acute hepatic failure, especially after iatrogenic bile duct injuries associated with vascular injuries, seems to be more fatal than post hepatectomy liver failure. In these cases of acute liver failure, which is a difficult situation to decide, emergency liver transplantation should be kept in mind as the treatment option.