Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Versus Full-Endoscopic/Percutaneous TLIF With a Large-Footprint Interbody Cage: A Comparative Observational Study.

Study Design: Exploratory prospective observational case-control study.

Objectives: Aim of this study was to compare clinical and radiologic outcome, as well as peri-operative complications, of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and full-endoscopic/percutaneous trans-Kambin transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (pTLIF) with a large-footprint interbody cage.

Methods: Patients that underwent elective ALIF and pTLIF with a large-footprint interbody cage were prospectively evaluated.

Epidemiological pattern, incidence, and outcomes of COVID-19 in liver transplant patients.

Background & Aims: The incidence and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in immunocompromised patients are a matter of debate.

Methods: We performed a prospective nationwide study including a consecutive cohort of liver transplant patients with COVID-19 recruited during the Spanish outbreak from 28 February to 7 April, 2020. The primary outcome was severe COVID-19, defined as the need for mechanical ventilation, intensive care, and/or death.

Clinical outcomes of patients undergoing antiviral therapy while awaiting liver transplantation.

Background & Aims: Antiviral therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C (HCV) infection has proved to be safe and efficacious in patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation (LT). However, the information regarding the clinical impact of viral eradication in patients on the waiting list is still limited. The aim of the study was to investigate the probability of delisting in patients who underwent antiviral therapy, and the clinical outcomes of these delisted patients.

Role of Transarterial Chemoembolization to Downstage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Within the Milan Criteria.

The practice of treating candidates for liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with locoregional therapies, is common in most transplantation centers. We present our results using transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a neo-adjuvant treatment in our center between 2002 and 2013 to determine its effectiveness in downstaging (DS) HCC within the Milan criteria (MC). Clinical variables were recorded of both donors and recipients, such as diagnosis and treatment, variables related to its etiology, the use of TACE as a neo-adjuvant treatment, immunosuppressive therapy, toxicity, recurrence of disease, exitus, and others.

Echocardiographic study in cirrhotic patient candidates for liver transplantation.

We studied 81 cirrhotic patients who were candidates for liver transplantation to evaluate frequently detected cardiac alterations by echocardiographic study. Patients were distributed into three groups: group 1 comprised alcoholic cirrhotic patients (n = 40); group 2, viral cirrhotic patients (hepatitis C or B virus) (n = 35); and group 3, patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 6). Cardiac chambers and diastolic functions were estimated by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in M mode and Doppler.