Assessment of the Hemostatic Parameters and Platelet Function on Thromboelastometry and Impedance Aggregometry in Hemodialysis Patients Qualified for Kidney Transplantation: Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is one of the medical conditions that affect hemostasis. Patients undergoing hemodialysis present both hemorrhagic and prothrombotic tendencies. Platelet adhesion to the artificial surface of the dialyzer's membrane, blood vessel endothelial wall disruption, and quantitative and qualitative changes in clothing factors are thought to be causative agents of the above-mentioned conditions. Thromboelastometry and impedance aggregometry enable precise assessment of clot formation and platelet function abnormalities, including changes related to chronic renal failure in patients undergoing renal replacement therapy. METHODS: A prospective study with control group was designed. The study group consisted of 17 adults with diagnosed chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. The control group consisted of 13 healthy volunteers. EXTEM and FIBTEM tests in rotational thromboelastometry and TRAPtest in impedance aggregometry analyzer were performed. RESULTS: EXTEM parameter test results were comparable between analyzed groups, whereas FIBTEM test results were significantly increased in the study group. Platelet aggregation as measured by the TRAPtests was significantly decreased in patients undergoing hemodialysis. CONCLUSIONS: In end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis, whole-blood clot formation is not disturbed, even though platelet dysfunction occurs. Increased fibrin clot formation reflected by FIBTEM results may compensate the observed platelet disorders. The compilation of ROTEM and Multiplate may support appropriate hemostatic control and decision-making during kidney transplantation.

Factors Affecting Breathing Capacity and Early Tracheal Extubation After Liver Transplantation: Analysis of 506 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Early extubation is a standard procedure after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: The preoperative and perioperative data of 506 adult patients undergoing LT from July 2000 to March 2015 were analyzed. The goal of this study was to determine preoperative and perioperative independent predictors of early tracheal extubation. RESULTS: Of the 506 study patients, 73.7% were extubated early after LT. Patients in this group exhibited better preoperative and perioperative outcomes. However, according to multivariate logistic regression analysis, only 3 parameters were independent predictors of early extubation: initial hemoglobin concentration (odds ratio [OR], 1.187 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.033-1.364]), application of epidural anesthesia (OR, 2.762 [95% CI, 1.025-7.445), and units of perioperative packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma transfused (OR, 0.919 [95% CI, 0.888-0.952]). CONCLUSIONS: Early extubation of patients undergoing LT is a safe and widely used procedure. However, the decision regarding this procedure should be made after thorough analysis of the patient's current status, the course of operation, and the patient's preoperative parameters. Based on our findings, we believe that the decision regarding early extubation can be aided by taking into account the patient's initial hemoglobin concentration, the number of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma transfused during surgery, and pain control by application of a thoracic epidural catheter.

Intraoperative blood flow measurements and liver allograft function: preliminary results.

INTRODUCTION: Our previous studies showed a correlation of intraoperative renal allograft blood flow and immediate functions. A similar relation is not well established for liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between hepatic blood flow on revascularization and immediate liver graft function (IF). METHODS: Studies evaluating arterial and portal flow in newly transplanted livers were started in May 2004. Total hepatic artery and portal vein blood flow were assessed in 15 liver transplant recipients. Parenchymal flow was also recorded. Measurements were taken at 30 and 120 minutes after simultaneous arterial/portal reperfusion. Flow results were correlated with IF. RESULTS: Mean arterial blood flow (ABF) was 16.3 mL/min/100 g in both measurements. Portal flow was reduced from 168 to 127 mL/min/100 g from the first to the second measurement. Mean parenchymal flow (PF) did not alter over time (29.1 and 30.4 mL/min/100 g, respectively). Among recorded flow results we observed a significant correlation between PF with IF measured as: bile volume (R = 0.36 to 0.62; P < .05), serum AST (R = -0.4 to -0.68; P < .05), and ALT level (R = -0.2 to -0.71; P < .05), bilirubin level as well as INR (R = -0.39 to -0.61; P < .05) assayed daily for 14 days. Similar observations were made between ABF and INR, hiatal parenchymal flow, and ALT as well as INR. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest hepatic blood flow may be a reliable predictor of graft viability and function. Of the variables measured, portal blood flow seems to be the most valuable indicator of liver function.

Perioperative use of recombinant activated factor VII in liver transplantation.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven, Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark) is a treatment used to prevent and arrest intra- and postoperative bleeds in patients with haemophilia A or B complicated by circulating anticoagulants (inhibitors of FVIII and FIX). Patients who qualify for liver transplantation may have varying degrees of coagulation impairment, which may adversely impact elective anaesthetic and surgical procedures and elevate the risk of intraoperative bleeds, which require massive blood transfusions and worsen prognosis. Recently, reports have been published on the use of rFVIIa prior to surgical procedures, which are likely to cause severe blood loss as well as for so-called emergency therapy of coagulation disorders during liver transplantation.

Application of recombinant activated factor VII for treatment of impaired haemostasis during liver transplantation in recipients with Wilson's disease--a report of two cases.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven, Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark) is a treatment used to prevent and arrest intra- and postoperative bleeding in patients with haemophilia A or B complicated by circulating anticoagulants (inhibitors of FVIII and FIX) and in patients without haemophilia who spontaneously develop inhibitors of FVIII, i.e. in acquired haemophilia. Patients who qualify for liver transplantation due to liver dysfunction may have varying degrees of coagulation impairment and thus carry an elevated risk of massive bleeding and have worse prognosis. The authors administered recombinant activated factor VII to two patients with coagulation abnormalities in the course of Wilson's disease during liver transplantation.