Liver retransplantation in superobese patients: a single center experience

A retrospective review of patients who had body mass indeces greater than 40 kg/m(2) who underwent liver retransplantation (LR) from February 1998 to December 2008 at our institution. There were 73 patients who had body mass indeces greater than 40 kg/m(2) and had orthotopic liver transplantation. Six of 73 patients required retransplantation. Median time between orthotopic liver transplantation and LR was 131 days (range, 2 to 2812 days). Indications for LR were ischemic cholangiopathy, hepatic necrosis, recurrent hepatitis C, and primary non-function. Four patients are still alive with median survival of 37 months after LR. Two patients had perioperative death.