BACKGROUND: This paper describes the experience and emphasizes the learning process with a program in liver transplantation developed at a University Hospital in Recife-PE. METHODS: Twenty patients were submitted to conventional orthotopic liver transplantation in a simplified way during the period from August 1999 to March 2002. Indications, liver function, blood transfusion, allograft ischemia time, intensive care period and morbidity and mortality rates were analyzed. VHC cirrhosis was the transplant indication in 9 (45%) patients, followed by alcoholic cirrhosis in 4 (20%) patients. Fifty per cent of the transplanted patients were classified in CHILD-PUGH as B, 40% as A, and 10% as C. RESULTS: The mean allograft ischemia time was 9 hours and 9 minutes (+ 2h 33'). The average of blood transfusion was 2,8 (+ 2,11) units. The operative technique was conventional without bypass in 18(90%) cases. There was one case of hepatic artery thrombosis and one of portal vein thrombosis. Eight patients (40%) presented biliary complications wich were resolved using endoscopic or percutaneus methods. A 100% of overall survival rate was achieved during a follow up of 2 to 32 months. CONCLUSION: The results of this initial study show that it is possible to perform liver transplantation with good results at a university hospital in the northeast region when a minimum of physical structure and human resources is assembled.
Liver transplantation
