Publications by authors named "Ilker Kavuk"
Background: Problems related to the central nervous system may have major impact on morbidity and mortality. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the nature and incidence of serious neurologic events in patients following liver transplantation.
Methods: Between January 2001 and May 2004, 168 patients (105 female, 63 male) requiring transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis B and C, and acute liver failure were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of University Hospital Essen after liver transplantation.
Article Synopsis
- Problems related to the central nervous system significantly affect survival and quality of life in liver transplant patients.
- A retrospective study found that 24.7% of 174 patients developed neurological complications, with the most common being encephalopathy (72.1%) and seizures (11.6%).
- Patients who received living donor liver transplants experienced fewer neurological issues compared to those who received cadaveric transplants, likely due to shorter cold ischemia times, while the overall survival rates for both groups were similar.
Wernicke's encephalopathy is a serious neurologic disorder caused by vitamin-B1 or thiamine deficiency. The classical triad of clinical symptoms described by Wernicke (gait ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and confusion) are found in only a third of patients upon initial examination. Typical findings upon MR imaging in patients with Wernicke's encephalopathy are well documented, with signal intensities in the medial thalami and periaqueductal regions of the midbrain.
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