[Orthotopic uterus transplantation. Sheep model experiment, Cali (Colombia)].

Objective: It has been recommended that professionals who are planning to perform uterine transplantation should first carry out animal experiments. This paper describes the procedure for uterine transplant in sheep, as well as short and medium-term results.

Methods: Experimental surgery study in sheep subjected to uterine explantation and transplant.

Adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation: The experience of the Université catholique de Louvain.

Background: Liver transplantation is the treatment for end-stage liver diseases and well-selected malignancies. The allograft shortage may be alleviated with living donation. The initial UCLouvain experience of adult living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is presented.

The Use of Autologous Peritoneum for Complete Caval Replacement Following Resection of Major Intra-abdominal Malignancies.

Objective: Assessment of a simple layer peritoneal tube used as an autogenous inferior vena cava replacement.

Background: Extensive en-bloc multivisceral resection including major vessels is effective in selected abdominal malignancies, but the need for vascular reconstruction represents a surgical challenge. We describe the use of autologous peritoneum for caval replacement.

Is minimal, [almost] steroid-free immunosuppression a safe approach in adult liver transplantation? Long-term outcome of a prospective, double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, investigator-driven study.

Objective: To investigate the safety of minimal immunosuppression (IS) in liver transplantation (LT).

Background: The lack of long-term follow-up studies, including pathologic data, has led to a protean handling of IS in LT.

Methods: Between February 2000 and September 2004, 156 adults were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled minimization trial comparing tacrolimus placebo (TAC-PLAC) and TAC short-term steroid (TAC-STER) IS.