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Abstract: Background: Determining surgical risk in cirrhotic patients is difficult and multiple scoring systems have sought to quantify this risk. The purpose of our study was to assess the impact of Childs-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP), Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), and MELD-Sodium (MELD-Na) scores on postoperative morbidity and mortality for cirrhotic patients undergoing nontransplant surgery. Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective review of all cirrhotic patients who underwent nontransplant surgery under general anesthesia over a 6-year period of time to analyze outcomes using the 3 scoring systems. Results: Sixty-four cirrhotic patients (mean age, 57 y; 62 men) underwent nontransplant surgery under general anesthesia. A CTP score of ≥7.5 was associated with an 8.3-fold increased risk of 30-day morbidity, a MELD score of ≥14.5 was associated with a 5.4-fold increased risk of 3-month mortality, and a MELD-Na score ≥14.5 was associated with a 4.5-fold increased risk of 1-year mortality. Emergent surgery, the presence of ascites, and low serum sodium level were associated significantly with morbidity and 1-year mortality. Conclusions: The major strengths of the 3 scoring systems are for CTP in estimating 30-day morbidity, MELD for estimating 3-month mortality, and MELD-Na for estimating 1-year mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim was to evaluate the prognostic ability of serum sodium, model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) and incorporation of serum sodium into MELD model (MELD-Na) of predicting 6 months mortality in cirrhotic patients at our Center. MELD and MELD-Na were calculated for all of 63 patients referred to our Department with clinical and laboratory signs of liver cirrhosis. Statistical significance of serum sodium, MELD and MELD-Na were compared by measuring the area under the curve (AUROC) Median MELD score was 15.84. Hyponatremia was present in 5% of the patients. During the study period, 25 patients (39.7%) died. Area under the Receiver-Operating Curve for the prediction of 6-month mortality of serum sodium, MELD and MELD-Na were 0.708, 0.980 and 0.987 respectively. MELD-NA had the highest accuracy of all the three parameters. Conclusion: Incorporation of serum sodium into MELD score as a prognostic model provides more accurate mortality prediction than MELD alone. But MELD score remains a simple and effective model for the assessment of prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and aim: The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) is used to predict the outcome of patients with cirrhosis. Incorporation of serum sodium (Na) into MELD may further increase its prognostic ability. Two Na-containing MELD models, MELD-Na and MELDNa, were proposed to enhance the prognostic ability. This study compared the predictive accuracy of these models for acute decompensated hepatitis. Methods: We investigated the outcome of 182 patients with acute decompensated hepatitis. Results: Twenty (11%) patients died at 3 months. The MELD-Na and MELDNa both had significantly higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in comparison to MELD (MELD-Na: 0.908, MELDNa: 0.895, MELD: 0.823, p =0.004 and 0.001, respectively). Among 96 patients without specific antiviral treatment, the MELD-Na and MELDNa consistently had significantly higher AUC than the MELD (MELD-Na: 0.901, MELDNa: 0.882, MELD: 0.810, p =0.008 and 0.004, respectively). Three independent indicators, pre-existing cirrhosis (odds ratio [OR]: 5.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.72–18.7), serum albumin <3.7g/dL (OR: 5.68, 95% CI: 1.18–27.03) and serum sodium (Na)<138mequiv./L (OR: 10.0, 95% CI: 2.08–47.62), were associated with 3-month mortality. Conclusion: MELD-Na and MELDNa provide better prognostic accuracy than the MELD for patients with acute decompensated hepatitis. The adequacy of liver reserve determines the outcome of these patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background and aim: Serum sodium has been suggested to incorporate into the model for end-stage liver disease to enhance its prognostic ability for cirrhosis. A mathematical equation based on model for end-stage liver disease and sodium, known as “MELD-Na”, was developed for outcome prediction for cirrhosis. The severity of liver cirrhosis is a key component to predict survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This study investigated the prognostic role of MELD-Na for hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients and methods: A total of 535 unselected hepatocellular carcinoma patients were prospectively enrolled to evaluate the performance of MELD-Na. Results: The MELD-Na was better than model for end-stage liver disease in predicting 6-month mortality by comparing the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (0.782 vs. 0.761, p =0.101). MELD-Na, but not model for end-stage liver disease, was an independent predictor associated with 6-month mortality in multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio: 1.14, p =0.001). In the survival analysis, MELD-Na also independently predicted mortality, with an additional risk of 4.3% per unit increment of the score (p <0.001). Patients with MELD-Na scores between 10 and 20 and scores >20 had 2.1-fold (p <0.001) and 7.5-fold (p <0.001) risk of mortality, respectively, compared to patients with a score <10 in the Cox proportional hazard model. Conclusion: The MELD-Na score is a feasible and independent prognostic predictor for both short- and long-term outcome predictions in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Cirrhosis is associated with increased perioperative risks related to hepatic decompensation. However, data are lacking regarding the incidence and outcomes of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy (HE)., Objective: To determine the incidence of HE postoperatively, factors associated with its development, and its association with in-hospital mortality., Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 583 patients with cirrhosis undergoing non-hepatic surgery over a 10-year period. Outcomes included postoperative HE and in-hospital mortality and were, respectively, evaluated using multi-state modeling and Fine-Gray competing risk regression (with postoperative HE as a time-varying covariate)., Results: Overall, the median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Sodium was 10, 61.7% had a history of ascites, 49.9% esophageal varices, and 34.6% HE. The most common surgeries including abdominal/non-bowel (33.3%), orthopedic (18.0%), and bowel (12.2%). A total of 42 (7.2%) patients developed HE postoperatively during admission. The cumulative risk of HE was 7.2%, which was most associated with a history of HE, ASA class, postoperative AKI, and postoperative infection. In-hospital mortality occurred in 34 (5.8%) individuals. Only ASA class was independently associated (HR 2.46, 95%CI 1.21-5.02), but there was a trend for postoperative HE (HR 1.71, 95%CI 0.73-3.98)., Discussion: HE is an uncommon but not rare postoperative complication that increases the risk of patient harm. This study implies its development is predictable. Consequently, at-risk patients should have consultation with a hepatologist before undergoing elective surgery., (© 2021 The Authors. United European Gastroenterology Journal published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of United European Gastroenterology.)

Background: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) incorporates hyponatremia into the MELD score and has been shown to correlate with surgical outcomes. The pathophysiology of hyponatremia parallels that of ascites, which purports greater surgical risk. This study investigates whether MELD-Na accurately predicts morbidity and mortality in patients with ascites undergoing general surgery procedures., Materials and Methods: We used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005-2014) to examine the adjusted risk of morbidity and mortality of cirrhotic patients with and without ascites undergoing inguinal or ventral hernia repair, cholecystectomy, and lysis of adhesions for bowel obstruction. Patients were stratified by the MELD-Na score and ascites. Outcomes were compared between patients with and without ascites for each stratum using low MELD-Na and no ascites group as a reference., Results: A total of 30,391 patients were analyzed. Within each MELD-Na stratum, patients with ascites had an increased risk of complications compared with the reference group (low MELD-Na and no ascites): low MELD-Na with ascites odds ratio (OR) 4.33 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.96-9.59), moderate MELD-Na no ascites OR 1.70 (95% CI 1.52-1.9), moderate MELD-Na with ascites OR 3.69 (95% CI 2.49-5.46), high MELD-Na no ascites OR 3.51 (95% CI 3.07-4.01), and high MELD-Na ascites OR 7.18 (95% CI 5.33-9.67). Similarly, mortality risk was increased in patients with ascites compared with the reference: moderate MELD-Na no ascites OR 3.55 (95% CI 2.22-5.67), moderate MELD-Na ascites OR 13.80 (95% CI 5.65-33.71), high MELD-Na no ascites OR 8.34 (95% CI 5.15-13.51), and high MELD-Na ascites OR 43.97 (95% CI 23.76-81.39)., Conclusions: MELD-Na underestimates morbidity and mortality risk for general surgery patients with ascites., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background & aims Celiac disease (CD) is a multisystem disorder triggered by dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals that may affect any organ system, including the liver. We evaluated a change in patient model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)-Na and albumin level from the time of celiac disease diagnosis to six months later, after implementing a gluten-free diet. Methods A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2018. CD was diagnosed based on celiac antibodies and/or histopathological data. MELD-Na and albumin were calculated at the start of the gluten-free diet and six months later. Additional variables like gender, ethnicity, serum IgA level, serum IgG level, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, and markers of end-stage liver disease were collected. Descriptive statistics, including means, were reported with the standard deviation for the continuous variables along with frequencies and percentages for all categorical variables. Results A total of 18 patients (55.6% male) were identified as having both cirrhosis and CD. The mean age at the time of celiac diagnosis was 53.6, and 94.4% were Caucasian. CD was diagnosed using celiac antibodies (100%) and histopathological data (44.4%). Most common celiac antibodies include anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (77.8%). End-stage liver disease markers like abdominal ascites (55.6%), variceal bleed (50.0%), acute or chronic kidney injury (16.7%), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (11.1%), hepatic encephalopathy (HE) (50.0%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (5.6%), and liver transplant (0.0%) were seen. The mean baseline MELD-Na score was 11.8, and albumin was 3.5 at the time of celiac diagnosis and mean MELD-Na was 11.8, and albumin was 3.5 six months after a gluten-free diet. Conclusion It is difficult to conclude any exact relationship between change in MELD-Na score after gluten-free diet, but an improving trend is noted in patients with higher MELD-Na score such as 17 or higher. There is no change or worsening of MELD-Na score in patients with lower MELD-Na score. There was no change in mean MELD-Na and albumin level after gluten-free diet., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Essrani et al.)

Background: The new Model for End-Stage Liver Disease includes serum sodium (MELD-Na). To evaluate its predictive power in non-transplant surgery, we analyzed emergency surgery outcomes of cirrhotic patients, hypothesizing that negative outcomes could be associated with discrete MELD-Na score thresholds., Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with cirrhosis undergoing emergency surgery at our institution from 2001 to 2013 (n = 85). Risk thresholds and predictors of peri-operative outcomes were identified using univariate and multivariate regression., Results: MELD-Na scores of 19, 17, and 12 were identified as predictors of 30-day mortality (OR = 3.44), post-operative complications (OR = 3.08), and discharge to home (inverse relationship, OR = 0.31). Post-operative complications were independent negative predictors of discharge to home (OR = 0.21)., Conclusion: Although emergency surgery in patients with cirrhosis can be life-saving, knowledge of the significant peri-operative risk should drive decision-making, informed by the increased risk associated with these score thresholds. Further study is needed to establish definitive MELD-Na thresholds., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Mortality rate of patients with cirrhosis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and requiring mechanical ventilation varies between 60 and 91%. The aim of our study is to assess the prognosis of these patients, their 1-year outcome and to analyze predictive factors of long-term mortality., Methods: From May 2005 to May 2011, we studied 246 consecutive patients with cirrhosis requiring mechanical ventilation either at admission or during their ICU stay., Results: Alcohol was the most common etiology of the cirrhosis (69%). Bleeding related to portal hypertension (30%) and severe sepsis (33%) were the most common reasons for admission. ICU and hospital mortality were respectively 65.9% and 70.3%. Prognostic severity scores, the need for other organ support therapy, infection, and total bilirubin value at ICU admission were significantly associated with ICU mortality. Eighty-four patients (34.1%) were discharged from the ICU. Among these patients, the one-year survival was only of 32%. Logistic regression analysis, using survival at one year as the endpoint, identified two independent risk factors: the length of ventilation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.2; p = 0.02) and total bilirubin at ICU discharge (OR = 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5; p = 0.006)., Conclusion: Patients with cirrhosis admitted to the liver ICU and who required mechanical ventilation have a poor prognosis with a 1-year mortality of 89%. At ICU discharge, a total bilirubin level higher than 64.5 μmol/L and length of ventilation higher than 9 days could help the hepatologists to identify patients at risk of death in the year following the ICU discharge., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.)