J Pediatr Surg 1988 Mar;23(3):250-3

Pediatric liver transplantation: report on 52 patients with a 2-year survival of
86%

Otte JB, Yandza T, de Ville de Goyet J, Tan KC, Salizzoni M, de Hemptinne B
Service of Pediatric Surgery, University of Louvain Medical School, Brussels,
Belgium 
Abstract
Between March 1984 and March 1987, 59 orthotopic liver transplantations have
been performed in 52 children at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels.
The actuarial survival was 86% +/- 5 up to 3 years of evolution. The most
frequent indication has been chronic hepatic insufficiency (43 patients) mainly
because of biliary atresia; seven patients were transplanted for acute hepatic
insufficiency and only two for liver tumor. Because of important donor/recipient
weight discrepancy, a reduced-size liver was used in 20 occasions either for
first or second transplant. No difference in the incidence of major
complications were seen between whole liver and reduced size liver transplanted
children, with the exception of more frequent subhepatic collections in the
first and more hepatic artery thrombosis in the second group. Liver tests,
clinical rehabilitation, and survival appear to be equal in the two groups