[The first clinical experience with orthotopic transplantation of the liver]

The article deals with material concerning the performance of 4 operations for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The operations were carried out on 2 males and 2 females whose ages ranged from 20 to 52 years. The indications for OLT were as follows: ++hemangioendothelioma of the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis-carcinoma of the liver, and metastatic affection of the liver. One male patient died immediately after the end of the operation, another patient died 3 days after the operation due to nonfunctioning of the transplant. In 2 female patients the operations were carried out successfully. One of them was discharged from the clinic in 62 days in a satisfactory conditions and a well functioning transplant. The other patient died from a complication which was not connected with the operation--perforation of the small intestine 69 days after OLT. The technical aspects of and the provision for the operation and the postoperative management of patients are discussed. The encountered complications are analysed.