Two-Year Experience of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Afzalipoor Hospital, Kerman, Southeastern Iran

BACKGROUND End-stage liver diseases are common in Iran. The only therapeutic option for these patients is liver transplantation. OBJECTIVE To present our 2-year experience of liver transplantations in Afzalipoor Hospital, Kerman, southeastern Iran. METHODS From November 2009 to September 2011, 12 patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation in our center. Their data including demographics, indications for transplantation, MELD scores, post-operative complications and their management were collected. RESULTS Patients (7 women and 5 men) aged between 14 and 55 years. Indications for the transplantation included HBV infection (n=5), cryptogenic cirrhosis (n=2), Wilson's disease, alcoholism (n=1), HCV infection (n=1), Budd-Chiari syndrome (n=1), and autoimmune hepatitis (n=1). MELD score of patients ranged from 16 to 30. All patients received tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetile and corticosteroid, postoperatively. 2 patients died of pulmonary and intra-abdominal infections with resultant to multiple organ failure. Nonfunctioning of transplanted liver and ongoing bleeding resulted in death in another patients. 9 patients are well doing and have excellent liver functions. CONCLUSION We had relatively successful results in our experience of orthotopic liver transplantation. Vicinity of our center to Shiraz Transplant Center would be an important factor in this success.