Z Ben‐Ari, D Shmueli, Z Shapira, E Mor, R Tur‐Kaspa – 30 December 2003 – Reinfection with hepatitis B virus after orthotopic liver transplantation is nearly universal in patients who have not received posttransplant immunoprophylaxis. Recurrence almost invariably leads to chronic liver disease. Interferon has been used both prophylactically and therapeutically but has not been effective.

A D Min, E O Atillasoy, M E Schwartz, M Thiim, C M Miller, H C Bodenheimer – 30 December 2003 – Hepatic venous outflow obstruction caused by hepatic vein thrombosis (HVT) is a manifestation of a hypercoagulable state, most commonly a myeloproliferative disorder (MPD). In the past, HVT was thought to have a poor prognosis unless treated surgically with portosystemic shunt or orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim of this study was to assess whether early diagnosis of the underlying hematologic disorder and institution of appropriate medical therapy have altered outcome.

B R Davidson, M L Barnard, K K Changani, S D Taylor‐Robinson – 30 December 2003 – Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows the noninvasive measurement of whole organ metabolism due to the presence of the MR‐ sensitive nucleus phosphorus 31 in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), its precursors, and break‐down products. In small animal liver transplant studies it has been used to analyze the metabolic effects of cold and warm ischemia, hypothermic reperfusion, and the relative efficacy of different organ preservation solutions.

R R Kemper, J E Menitove, D W Hanto – 30 December 2003 – Approximately 6,000 to 7,000 orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) procedures are performed annually, which require the administration of large volumes of blood products. Thus liver transplantation can significantly strain local and regional blood resources at a time when transfusion practices are changing dramatically, in large part because of anxiety caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.

A Steib, A Saada, B Clever, C Lehmann, G Freys, S Levy, K Boudjema – 30 December 2003 – Conventional liver transplantation requires cross‐clamping of the hepatic pedicle and inferior vena cava, leading to severe hemodynamic and metabolic disturbances, usually attenuated by the use of venovenous bypass. A more recent surgical technique, piggyback with temporary portocaval shunting, preserves both caval and portal blood flows. The aim of this study was to compare the two methods prospectively. Forty‐ four patients with chronic liver disease were studied.

P Rosenthal, J C Emond, M B Heyman, J Snyder, J Roberts, N Ascher, L Ferrell – 30 December 2003 – Many centers perform biopsies on transplanted livers annually to assess allograft function because serum biochemical tests do not always correlate with histological findings. Although criteria exist for diagnosing acute cellular rejection, no similar criteria exist to describe the histopathological changes observed in the “normal” liver of an immunosuppressed but healthy child.

30 December 2003

Anna C. Botero, Steven M. Strasberg, – 30 December 2003 – A major obstacle to coherent terminology for liver anatomy and resections has been that American and French anatomists have divided the left side of the liver through different planes. Couinaud divided the left hemiliver into “sectors” by a plane through the left hepatic vein. Healey and Schroy divided it into “segments” through the umbilical fissure.

Michihiro Hayashi, Emmet B. Keeffe,, Sheri M. Krams, Olivia M. Martinez, Okechukwu N. Ojogho, Samuel K.S. So, Gabriel Garcia, Joanne C. Imperial, Carlos O. Esquivel – 30 December 2003 – Autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) may progress to liver failure, requiring liver transplantation as definitive therapy, and these immune‐mediated disorders may predispose the patient to more frequent graft rejection. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of preexisting AILD on the incidence of allograft rejection after liver transplantation.

Marc Webb, Robert Puig, Farrukh Khan, Jose Nery, Edward Russell, Andreas Tzakis, – 30 December 2003 – Biliary drainage has long been called the Achilles' heel of liver transplantation, and biliary complications compromise the success of liver transplantation by increasing graft loss and the rates of a required second operation, morbidity, and mortality. One cause of complications is unrecognized anomalous biliary anatomy. We examined 73 intraoperative donor duct cholangiograms (IODDCs) to assess our ability to identify biliary anomalies intraoperatively.