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Preliminary Report of Major Surgery in Liver Transplant Recipients Receiving m-TOR Inhibitors without Therapeutic Discontinuation

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Abstract

Introduction

Mammalian target rapamycin inhibitors (m-TORi) are increasingly used in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). Yet, there is rising concern that they also could impair wound healing and favor the development of several surgical complications. This report was designed to evaluate both feasibility and safety of major surgery in liver transplant recipients receiving m-TORi–based immunosuppression without therapeutic discontinuation.

Methods

From 2007 to 2012, six liver transplant recipients underwent nine major abdominal or thoracic surgical procedures without m-TORi discontinuation or specific dosage adjustment. Their characteristics and postoperative outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Indications for m-TORi were de novo or recurrent malignant disease in five patients and calcineurin inhibitors related neurologic toxicity in one patient. Abdominal procedures, thoracic procedures, and combined thoracic and abdominal procedures were performed in six, two, and one cases respectively. Emergency surgery was performed in one case and elective procedures were performed in eight cases, including five for malignant disease and three for late surgical complications following LT. No patient died postoperatively. One major complication was observed, but no patient required reoperation. No evisceration, incisional surgical site infection, or lymphocele occurred.

Conclusions

Major surgery in liver transplant recipients receiving m-TOR inhibitors appears both feasible and safe without therapeutic discontinuation or specific dosage adjustment.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Hopital Saint Antoine, Assistance publique-Hopitaux de Paris, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012, Paris Cedex, France

    Lilian Schwarz, François Cauchy, Filomena Conti, Ailton Sepulveda, Fabiano Perdigao, Denis Bernard, Yvon Calmus, Olivier Soubrane & Olivier Scatton

  2. Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France

    Filomena Conti, Yvon Calmus, Olivier Soubrane & Olivier Scatton

Authors
  1. Lilian Schwarz
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  2. François Cauchy
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  3. Filomena Conti
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  4. Ailton Sepulveda
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  5. Fabiano Perdigao
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  6. Denis Bernard
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  7. Yvon Calmus
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  8. Olivier Soubrane
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  9. Olivier Scatton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lilian Schwarz.

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Schwarz, L., Cauchy, F., Conti, F. et al. Preliminary Report of Major Surgery in Liver Transplant Recipients Receiving m-TOR Inhibitors without Therapeutic Discontinuation. World J Surg 38, 3193–3198 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-014-2693-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-014-2693-x

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