Background: Over the past 30 years, new liver transplant programs have emerged as a response to the increasing use of this therapy to treat irreversible liver failure. Objective: the aim of this presentation is to describe the organization, development and initial results of a Liver Transplant Program in Mar del Plata. Material and methods: A team of professionals trained in liver transplantation was created, with specialists in surgery, anesthesiology, intensive care, hepatology, hemotherapy, hematology, and registered nurses and nurse scrubs granted by regulatory agencies. Building alterations, and technical and adaptations were implemented. Thirty-two transplantations were performed with complete cadaveric donor in patients from neighboring localities (55%) and from Mar del Plata (45%). The most common etiologies of cirrhosis were chronic hepatitis C virus infection and alcohol abuse. Results: Operative mortality was 12.5%. Actuarial survival at 55 months of the 32 recipients was 75%. Six bile drug strictures late postoperative period which were treated successfully trated with a conservative approach Conclusions: the Liver Transplant Program in Mar del Plata provides care to the geographic area of the southeast of the province of Buenos Aires. The initial results are consistent with those expected for the current standards in liver transplantation.

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