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Background--The greatest hemodynamic instability during orthotopic liver transplantation occurs at graft reperfusion. Many factors have been implicated. Purpose--To compare hemodynamic changes after reperfusion in grafted livers preserved with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution versus grafted livers preserved with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Methods--In this prospective study, we randomly divided 89 patients who underwent deceased donor liver transplantation into 2 groups: the UW group and the HTK group. The HTK group was further divided into 2 subgroups: flushed and not flushed before reperfusion. The patients were monitored with hemodynamic and metabolic parameters at 3 times: after the skin incision, 5 minutes before reperfusion, and 5 minutes after reperfusion. Results--Hemodynamic parameters in the UW group had not changed significantly at 5 minutes before reperfusion or 5 minutes after reperfusion (P= .45), and the incidence of hypotension after reperfusion in the UW group was 20%. In both HTK groups, the mean arterial pressure 5 minutes after reperfusion was significantly lower than at 5 minutes before reperfusion (P= .002); the incidence of hypotension after reperfusion in the nonflushed HTK group was 83.3% and in the flushed HTK group, 65.5%. Conclusions--The incidence of hypotension after reperfusion is greater if HTK solution rather than UW solution is used. Flushing of grafted livers preserved with HTK solution might eliminate some vasoactive substances found in HTK solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Liver transplant traditionally and potentially is associated with the risk of massive blood loss and transfusion, which can adversely affect transplant outcomes. Many variables influence the amount of bleeding, and these can be categorized as patient related, surgery related, and graft related. We aimed to assess the effects of these variables on the amount of bleeding and transfusion during liver transplant; predicting the risk of massive blood loss can help transplant teams to select and manage patients more effectively., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 754 patients who underwent liver transplant from 2013 to 2016 and analyzed more than 20 variables that could influence the volume of blood loss and packed cell transfusion., Results: We found that at least 4 variables are strongly and independently correlated with blood loss volume: age, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, warm ischemia time, and total bilirubin. Furthermore, intraoperative blood loss had a weak but clinically important correlation with the underlying disease (ie, the cause of liver cirrhosis). Some variables, including international normalized ratio, platelet count, albumin, serum urea nitrogen, creatinine level, sodium level, and the amount of ascites, could be considered as 'dependent' and weak predictors of massive blood loss. Sex of patient, cold ischemia time, surgery technique, and history of previous abdominal surgery were not correlated with the amount of bleeding., Conclusions: With the use of the variables identified, we can properly select patients and surgical teams and promptly use modalities for decreasing and managing blood loss.

Context: Attenuating postreperfusion syndrome during orthotopic liver transplant is very important for transplant anesthesiologists because of the syndrome's complications. Oxygen-derived free radicals play an important role in the genesis of postreperfusion syndrome, but the effect of mannitol (a free radical scavenger) on attenuating the syndrome is unclear.OBJECTIVES-To investigate the effectiveness of infusing mannitol during the anhepatic phase in preventing postreperfusion syndrome, as indicated by postreperfusion cardiac output and central venous oxygen saturation., Design: In a randomized clinical trial, 53 patients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplant were allocated to 2 groups. During the anhepatic phase, patients in the mannitol group received 1g/kg mannitol, whereas those in the control group received physiological saline. Mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and central venous oxygen saturation were measured before and after the portal vein was declamped. Serum levels of sodium and potassium were recorded at baseline and after portal vein declamping.Setting-Shiraz Organ Transplant Center, Shiraz, Iran., Results: In the mannitol group, no significant change was found in mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and central venous oxygen saturation before and after declamping of the portal vein (P= .78, P= .59, and P= .83, respectively). However, after declamping in the control group, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and central venous oxygen saturation were significantly lower than before declamping (P=.003, P=.001, and P<.001, respectively). No significant change in serum levels of sodium and potassium from baseline to after declamping were found in either group., Conclusion: Infusion of mannitol 1 g/kg during the anhepatic phase was effective in attenuating postreperfusion syndrome without stress about hyperkalemia or hyponatremia during anesthesia.

Background: Severe metabolic acidosis occurs during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) particularly during the anhepatic phase. Although NaHCO3 is considered as the current standard therapy, there are numerous adverse effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether the restricted use of normal saline during anesthesia could reduce the need for NaHCO3., Methods: In this study we enrolled 75 patients with end-stage liver disease who underwent OLT from February 2010 until September 2010 at the Shiraz Organ Transplantation Center. Fluid management of two different transplant anesthetics were compared. The effect of restricted normal saline fluid was compared with non-restricted normal saline fluid on hemodynamic and acid-base parameters at three times during OLT: after the skin incision (T1), 15 min before reperfusion (T2), and 5 min after reperfusion (T3)., Results: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics of the donors and recipients (P>0.05). In the restricted normal saline group there was significantly lower central venous pressure (CVP) than in the non-restricted normal saline group (P=0.002). No significant differences were noted in the other hemodynamic parameters between the two groups (P>0.05). In the non-restricted normal saline group arterial blood pH (P=0.01) and HCO3 (P=0.0001) were significantly less than the restricted normal saline group. The NaHCO3 requirement before reperfusion was significantly more than with the restricted normal saline group (P=0.001)., Conclusion: Restricted normal saline administration during OLT reduced the severity of metabolic acidosis and the need for NaHCO3 during the anhepatic phase., Trial Registration Number: IRCT2013110711662N5.

Background: Post-reperfusion syndrome (PRS) is an important complication during liver transplantation., Objective: We studied the occurrence and severity of PRS in patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) to investigate how PRS was correlated to clinical variables and outcomes., Methods: We retrospectively recorded intra- and peri-operative data for 184 adult patients who received cadaveric OLT during a 3-year period from 2005 to 2008. Patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of PRS: Group 1 (mild or no PRS) comprised 152 patients; and group 2 (significant PRS) consisted of 32 patients., Results: There were no significant differences in demographic and pre-operative data between groups. Group 2 had more total blood loss than group 1 (p=0.036), especially after reperfusion (p=0.023). Group 2 required more packed red cell transfusions (p=0.005), more fresh frozen plasma (p=0.003) and more platelets (p=0.043) than group 1. Fibrinolysis was more frequent in group 2 (p=0.004). Hospital stay in group 2 was significantly longer than in group 1 (p=0.034), but the frequencies of other outcomes including infection, retransplantation, dialysis, rejection and extended donor criteria did not differ significantly between groups., Conclusions: Bleeding, blood transfusion and fibrinolysis occurred more often in the group of severe PRS after reperfusion. Although postoperative complications like rejection, infection and the dialysis rate were not significantly different in the two groups, hospital stay was more prolonged in the group with severe PRS.