Liver transplantation has been recognized as an effective therapeutic method for
end-stage liver disease in Japan.
Fulminant hepatic failure is also an indication for
liver transplantation, and the number of patients undergoing
liver transplantation has been increasing. Reversibility and urgency are characteristics of
fulminant hepatitis. If given appropriate critical support, many patients recover spontaneously. However, many patients develop
cerebral edema or multiorgan failure before the liver can regenerate. From October 1996 to July 2002, living donor
liver transplantation (LDLT) was performed to 84
end stage liver disease patients in Kyushu University. Twenty-four (28.6%) of 84 LDLTs were for
fulminant hepatic failure. In Kyushu University, LDLT candidates including urgent cases were discussed with indication in the
liver transplantation committee (the medical professions division and an outside-the-university committee are included) and then the coordinator committee performs informed consent. LDLT can be performed only by cooperation of each section concerned such as Transfusion part, Medicine part, Radiation part, Operation part, Intensive Care Unit and so on. In this paper, we outline about
fulminant hepatic failure and living donor
liver transplantation, and describe the
fulminant hepatitis medical treatment organization in Kyushu University.