Clinical analysis on pulmonary complications following liver transplantation in 68 cases

Abstract:

Objective：To investigate clinical features of pulmonary complications following liver transplantation in order to guide clini－cal intervention and to increase patients’ survival rate. Methods：Clinical data of 68 liver transplant recipients in our hospital from November 2006 to November 2011 were studied retrospectively. Clinical features of postoperative pulmonary complications including incidences，time of onset，risk factors or causes of morbidity，treatment and outcome were studied and summarized. Results：Sixty（88.2%）patients developed at least one pulmonary complication following liver transplantation. The most frequent complication was pleural ef－fusion（59，86.8%），followed by pneumonia（15，22.1%），pulmonary edema（13，19.1%），respiratory tract bleeding（2，2.9%）and at－electasis（1，1.5%）. Conclusions：Pleural effusion，pneumonia and pulmonary edema are common pulmonary complications following liver transplantation. Patients who develop pneumonia have poor prognosis.