Adult liver transplantation: UCL experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of standardized operative and peri-operative care on the outcome of liver transplantation in a single center series of 395 adult patients. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Between February 1984 and December 31, 1998, 451 orthotopic liver transplantations were performed in 395 adult patients (> or = 15 years) at the University Hospitals St-Luc in Brussels. Morbidity and mortality of the periods 1984-1990 (Gr I--174 pat.) and 1991-1998 were compared (Gr II--221 pat.). During the second period anti-infectious chemotherapy and perioperative care were standardized and surgical technique changed from classical orthotopic liver transplantation with recipients' vena cava resection (and use of veno-venous bypass) towards liver implantation with preservation of the vena cava (without use of bypass). Immunosuppression was cyclosporine based from 1984 up to 1996 and tacrolimus based during the years 1997 and 1998. Immunosuppression was alleviated during the second period due to change from quadruple to triple and even double therapy and due to the introduction of low steroid dosing and of steroid withdrawal, once stable graft function was obtained. Indications for liver grafting were chronic liver disease (284 pat--71.9%), hepatobiliary tumor (52 pat--13.2%), acute liver failure (40 pat--10.1%) and metabolic disease (19 pat--4.8%). Regrafting was necessary because of graft dysfunction (21 pat), technical failure (12 pat), immunological failure (18 pat) and recurrent viral allograft disease (5 pat); three of these patients were regrafted at another institution. Follow-up was complete for all patients with a minimum of 9 months. RESULTS: Actuarial 1, 5 and 10 years survival rates for the whole group were 77.9%, 65.7% and 58.3%. These survival rates were respectively 77.3%, 69.7%, 62.5% and 73.2%, 59.6% 51.4% for benign chronic liver disease and acute liver failure; those for malignant liver disease were 80.6%, 44.3% and 36.7%. Early (< 3 months) and late (> 3 months) posttransplant mortalities were. 14.4% (57 pat) and 21.2% (84 pat). Early mortality lowered from 20% in Gr I to 9.4% in Gr II (p < 0.02); this was due to a significant reduction during the second period of bacterial (99/174 pat.--56.9% vs 82/221 pat.--37.1%), fungal (14 pat.--8% vs 7 pat.--3.2%) and viral (87 pat.--50% vs 49 pat.--22.2%) infections (p < 0.05) as well as of perioperative bleeding (92 pat.--52.9% vs 39 pat.--17.6%--p < 0.001). Late mortality remained almost identical throughout the two periods as lethal outcome was mainly caused by recurrent allograft diseases, cardiovascular and tumor problems. Morbidity in these series was important considering that almost, half of the patients had a technical complication, mostly related to bleeding (131 pat--33.2%) and biliary problems (66 pat--16.7%). Retransplantation index was 1.1 (54 pat.--14%). Early retransplantation mortality was 24%; it lowered, although not yet significantly, during the second period (8/25 pat.--32% vs. 5/29 pat.--17.2%). CONCLUSION: Despite a marked improvement of results, liver transplantation remains a major medical and surgical undertaking. Standardization of operative and perioperative care, less haemorraghic surgery and less aggressive immunosuppression are the keys for further improvement.

Hemodynamic and neurohumoral effects of the angiotensin II antagonist losartan in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Losartan is a specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist with no agonist properties. This agent permits evaluation of the response to selective angiotensin II antagonism in patients with congestive heart failure. OBJECTIVE: A study was designed to assess the acute hemodynamic and neurohumoral response to losartan in a controlled, blinded fashion. DESIGN: Sixty-six patients in New York Heart Association functional class II, III or IV with a radionuclide ejection fraction of < 40% were randomly allocated to treatment with placebo and then sequentially to 5, 10, 25, 75 and 150 mg losartan. Hemodynamic and neurohumoral measurements were obtained at selected times for 24 h following ingestion of a single dose of losartan. RESULTS: Treatment with losartan led to dose-dependent vasodilation. Mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance decreased progressively up to a dose of 25 mg. The higher doses of 75 and 150 mg did not produce additional vasodilation. Similarly, the decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was not greater with doses exceeding 25 mg. The increase in the cardiac index was modest and similar for all doses. No variation in the heart rate was observed at any dose. The hemodynamic changes were accompanied by marked neurohumoral changes. Large dose-related increases in plasma renin activity and angiotensin II levels were observed, especially following the 150-mg dose. Moderate reductions occurred in serum aldosterone and plasma noradrenaline. The peak effect for these parameters occurred 4-6 h after the dose, with persistent changes still evident 24 h after the dose. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that selective blockade of the angiotensin II receptor with losartan causes a favorable vasodilatory and neurohumoral response in patients with heart failure. Further studies are needed to determine the most effective dose in these patients. Nevertheless, losartan should be of substantial clinical use in the management of this large population.

The endogenous digoxin-like factor enhances bupivacaine toxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The influence of the immunoreactive endogenous digoxin-like factor (IEDLF) on the systemic toxic effects of bupivacaine was studied in a rodent model. METHODS: During 5 weeks, IEDLF secretion was promoted in 10 Wistar male rats by allowing them to drink saline 0.5% in place of water. Ten other animals drank desionized water (control). At the time of experimentation, the two groups of rats were mixed to allow blind observation. Anesthesia was induced with barbiturate, and controlled ventilation was started. A blood sample was drawn for IEDLF assessment just before bupivacaine was infused at a constant rate of 2 mg/kg per minute. Data were analyzed for statistical significance using Student's t-test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Two rats in the saline group died during the induction of anesthesia. An IEDLF activity was found in the eight remaining rats in this group. Threshold doses of bupivacaine's toxic effects (first ventricular arrhythmia, first seizure activity, 25% fall of baseline heart rate, 25% of baseline mean arterial blood pressure, isoelectric electroencephalogram) were significantly lower for the rats with an endogenous digoxin-like activity. There were, however, no significant differences in the lethal dose of bupivacaine. CONCLUSION: In hyperoxic nonacidotic male rats, IEDLF increases the cardiac and central nervous system toxicity of bupivacaine.

Liver transplantation and pulmonary gas exchanges in hypoxemic children.

Hypoxemia in cirrhotic patients is well documented. One of the possible causes of this association seems to be the presence of functional intrapulmonary shunts. The extent of the ventilation/perfusion ratio (VA/Q) abnormalities and their regression after orthotopic liver transplantation has been previously studied in adults by the multiple inert gas elimination technique. We report here a similar study in three children where the hypoxemia was the main indication for early liver grafting, although the liver function was still preserved at that time. Their hypoxemia was almost exclusively caused by a right to left shunt (VA/Q = 0) with a minimal amount of poorly ventilated but well perfused areas (Low VA/Q). This association may explain the poor response of the arterial oxygen pressure to an increased inspired oxygen concentration. Despite these very large VA/Q mismatches, the children underwent successful liver transplantations, resulting in a regression of the intrapulmonary shunt, as demonstrated by multiple inert gas elimination technique, and compatible with a normal life.

Hemodynamic and neurohormonal effects of the angiotensin II antagonist losartan in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Losartan is a new specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist with no agonist properties that provides the opportunity to study the consequences of angiotensin II blockade. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and neurohormonal response to losartan in patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: After baseline hemodynamic measurements using balloon-tipped pulmonary artery and radial arterial catheters, patients were randomized to receive a single dose of placebo or 5, 10, 25, 75, or 150 mg losartan in a double-blind, sequential fashion. Hemodynamic and neurohormonal parameters were then measured periodically for 24 hours. Losartan caused vasodilation in a dose-dependent manner. By the area-under-the-curve method, the reduction in the mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance grew larger up to a dose of 25 mg, but the higher 75- and 150-mg doses did not produce additional vasodilation. In response to losartan, there were compensatory increases in both angiotensin II concentrations and in plasma renin activity, which were greatest at the highest doses. Aldosterone concentrations were significantly lowered with losartan. CONCLUSIONS: Blockade of the angiotensin II receptor with the antagonist losartan causes vasodilator and neurohormonal effects in patients with congestive heart failure. The lack of additional vasodilator response with doses of more than 25 mg suggests that neurohormonal activation might limit the efficacy of high dose of losartan.