Respiratory failure after liver transplantation.

A rapidly growing haemangioendothelial sarcoma of the liver in a twenty-two year old woman was treated by liver transplantation. Disseminated intravascular coagulation resulted in massive blood loss during surgery, and contributed to the death of the patient from respiratory failure on the fourth post-operative day, despite continuous post-operative intermittent positive-pressure ventilation. Other factors leading to her respiratory failure are discussed. There was no evidence of dysfunction in the transplanted liver.