Anesthetic management during the first combined heart-liver transplant performed in Korea: a case report / 대한마취과학회지

Herein, we describe the anesthetic management during the first combined heart-liver transplant (CHLT) performed in Korea. Though CHLT is a rare procedure, accumulating evidence suggests that it is a feasible option for patients with coexisting heart and liver failure. A 45-year-old female patient presented with severe cardiac dysfunction requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support and secondary congestive hepatopathy. The patient underwent consecutive heart and liver transplantation using extracorporeal circulatory devices—heart transplant with cardiopulmonary bypass, and liver transplant with peripheral ECMO. In this case report, we focus on the specific anesthetic considerations for CHLT pertaining to the challenges associated with dual pathophysiology.

Intensive care on one case of combined heart-liver transplantation / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To summarize the diagnosis and treatment of one case of combined heart liver transplantation. Methods On November 24, 2011, one case of combined heart-liver transplantation was performed on a patient with Ebstein's anomaly and tricuspid valve replacement after 5 years,complicated with congestive cirrhosis,liver failure dccompensation,preoperative heart failure Ⅲ degree and B grade of liver function Child-Pugh score. The operation was done with the graded cardiopulmonary bypass assisted mode:first creating the vena cava-aortic bypass to complete heart transplantation, second creating the femoral vein-ascending aorta bypass to complete liver transplantation,and third stopping and neutralizing.The aortic cross-clamping time was 54 min and the an hepatic phase was 38 min.The total time of three times of cardiopulmonary bypass was 199 min and the total time-consuming of operation was 517 min. The patient was given basiliximab +methylprednisolone for immune induction therapy, and tacrolimus + mycophenolate mofetil +prednisone solution for anti-rejection. After operation, liver protecting treatment, anti-infection therapy and nutrition support therapy were given.Results The recipient died of multiple organ failure after 78 days.The mechanical ventilation treatment duration for this recipient was 78 days and ECMO adjuvant therapy for postoperative hypoxemia time lasted 63 days.Conclusion The combined heart liver transplantation is an effective measures for treatment of heart and liver failure.