James F. Trotter, Paul V. Suhocki – 30 December 2003 – Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an effective therapy for patients with medically refractory ascites. Many patients with refractory ascites have umbilical herniation. Incarceration of umbilical hernia has been reported following diuresis, paracentesis, and peritoneovenous shunting. We report 2 cases of umbilical hernia incarceration following resolution of ascites after TIPS.

Sukru Emre, Myron E. Schwartz, Benjamin Shneider, Joanne Hojsak, Leona Kim‐Schluger, Thomas M. Fishbein, Stephen R. Guy, Patricia A. Sheiner, Neal S. LeLeiko, Audrey Birnbaum, Frederick J. Suchy, Charles M. Miller – 30 December 2003 – The mortality rate among children with acute liver failure (ALF) on the waiting list for liver transplantation is high. We present our experience with living related donor liver transplantation (LRD‐LT) in children who required urgent transplantation for ALF. Between December 1995 and July 1997, 6 children underwent LRD‐LT for ALF.

Ziv Ben‐Ari, Peter Amlot, Surech R. Lachmanan, Ran Tur‐Kaspa, Keith Rolles, Andrew K. Burroughs – 30 December 2003 – Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a well‐recognized complication of organ transplantation. The aim of this study, performed over 9 years, was to examine the histopathological findings, clinical course, and outcome of patients who, having undergone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), developed PTLD.

Linhares Furtado, Fernando Oliveira, Emanuel Furtado, Batista Geraldes, Aurélio Reis, Joaquim Viana, Carlos Bento, Helena Vieira, Silvia Neves – 30 December 2003

Indra D. M. van Mourik, Mike Thomson, Deirdre A. Kelly – 30 December 2003 – Cyclosporine (Sandimmune; Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd) is an effective immunosuppressive drug, but its lipid formulation and variable absorption may expose children to the risk of rejection during episodes of gastroenteritis after liver transplantation. Neoral (Novartis) is a microemulsified form of cyclosporine that may be better absorbed.

Kia Saeian, José Franco, Richard A. Komorowski, Mark B. Adams – 30 December 2003 – The occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in renal transplant recipients has typically been associated with hepatitis B or C infection. We encountered two cases of HCC in renal transplant recipients with negative hepatitis B and C markers and no underlying liver pathology, in whom immunosuppression therapy consisted of prednisone and azathioprine (AZA). Patient no. 1 is a 66‐year‐old man with diabetes who underwent cadaveric renal transplantation 13 years before presentation.

Mark W. Russo, Robert S. Sandler, Lawrence Mandelkehr, Jeffrey H. Fair, Mark W. Johnson, Robert S Brown – 30 December 2003 – Prior studies evaluating the impact of race and payer on cost of liver transplantation did not adjust for clinical factors known to increase cost. We analyzed the impact of race and payer on the cost of liver transplantation after controlling for clinical factors.

Robert Ryu, Terry C. Lin, David Kumpe, Joseph Krysl, Janette D. Durham, James S. Goff, Gregory T. Everson, Igal Kam, Michael Wachs, Paul Russ, Roshan Shrestha, Thomas E. Trouillot, Bahri M. Bilir, – 30 December 2003 – Mesenteric vein thrombosis (MVT) is a rare cause of intestinal ischemia. Because of its nonspecific symptoms, diagnosis is often delayed. We describe a patient with liver cirrhosis who developed acute MVT while waiting for liver transplantation. Surgical intervention carried a high risk because of her underlying cirrhosis.

Dieter C. Broering, Xavier Rogiers,, Massimo Malagó, Atef Bassas, Christoph E. Broelsch – 30 December 2003

Yoshihide Fukuda, Isao Nakano, Yoshiaki Katano, Hidenori Toyoda, Shoichi Yokozaki, Kazuhiko Hayashi – 30 December 2003