Zinc deficiency and its repletion following liver transplantation in humans.

Zinc deficiency is common in patients with end-stage liver disease but its prevalence and resolution in liver transplant recipients has not been reported. We hypothesized that with normalization of liver function after transplant, zinc levels should rapidly return to normal, obviating the need for oral supplementation. Serum zinc levels were obtained as part of routine laboratory studies just prior to liver transplantation in 34 patients. Of these, 22 had at least one additional zinc level obtained post-transplant. The charts of these 34 patients were retrospectively reviewed for pre- and post-transplant zinc, albumin, protein, and cholesterol levels, prothrombin times, use of oral zinc supplementation, and patient demographics including age, gender, cause of liver failure, UNOS status at the time of transplant, and the use of a pre-transplant trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Post-transplant, the patients received standard enteral formula for nutrition. The overall zinc level for the group was 37.4 +/- 9.0 micrograms/dl (mean +/- s.d., normal = 60-150 micrograms/dl). Thirty-two of the 34 patients (94%) had a zinc level in the subnormal range. There were no differences in zinc levels between patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver failure, males versus females, UNOS status (low = status 1 and 2, high = 3 and 4), pre-transplant use of TIPS nor correlation between age and zinc level. All 22 patients who had a post-transplant zinc level demonstrated an increase from 40.1 +/- 9.7 micrograms/dl to 68.5 +/- 14.1 micrograms/dl (p < and = 0.0001, paired t-test). Our findings indicate that zinc deficiency, generally profound, should be assumed to be present in every patient with end-stage liver disease awaiting transplant. During the waiting period oral supplementation with zinc should be provided. The degree of deficiency is not effected by cause of liver failure, UNOS status, or the presence of TIPS. Following transplantation, zinc levels rapidly recover, obviating the need for checking levels and oral supplementation.

Nutrition support following liver transplantation: comparison of jejunal versus parenteral routes.

Liver failure patients are chronically malnourished at the time of transplant. We have used jejunostomy tubes (j-tube) placed at the time of liver transplantation for immediate postoperative enteral nutrition. We compared the effectiveness of this means of nutrition to total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Sixty-three adult patients fed enterally (ENT) with a semi-elemental diet were retrospectively compared to 21 adult controls alimented with TPN, both beginning after liver transplantation. Data collected included: day to initiation of nutrition, day of achieving goal nutrition, day of removal of nasogastric tube, day of initiation of oral nutrition, day of achieving oral nutritional goal, and serum albumin, cholesterol, SGOT, SGPT, GGT, and bilirubin. Intestinal complications of diarrhea, ileus, and perforation were analyzed. Statistical analyses used an unpaired t-test for continuous data, and Chi square for categorical data. Caloric requirements, percentage ideal body weight, age, and initial cholesterol and albumin were equal. Fifty-four of the ENT patients were fed only by j-tube; 9 ENT patients also required TPN. ENT patients started on nutrition sooner (3 +/- 1.7 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.9 days, p = 0.001), reached goal oral nutrition sooner (19.5 +/- 11 days vs. 38.6 +/- 24.6 days, p = 0.0061, Mann-Whitney U test), and had a lower frequency of prolonged postoperative ileus (8.3%, vs. 33%, p = 0.009) than TPN patients. ENT patients had a greater frequency of diarrhea than TPN controls (73% vs. 25%, p < 0.001). This diarrhea was self-limited, lasting 3 to 5 days, and responded to anti-motility drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tube jejunostomy in liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional support after liver transplantation most often uses intravenous hyperalimentation followed by nasoduodenal tubes until adequate intake is achieved. Because of difficulties with nasoduodenal tubes, we place jejunostomy tubes (j-tube) at the time of the transplantation, allowing immediate postoperative enteral nutrition. This review analyzes the complications of this procedure in transplant recipients. METHODS: J-tubes were placed in 108 of 119 adults who underwent liver transplantation between October 1989 and June 6, 1994. These patients were retrospectively reviewed for the type and frequency of j-tube-related complications. J-tube feeds with a semielemental formula were started within 24 to 48 hours after transplantation. RESULTS: Eighteen complications occurred in 16 patients. Six were mechanical obstructions of the j-tube because of kinking by the fascia. Six exploratory laparotomies were required, two each for infection, small bowel obstruction, or catheter displacement. Four other infections were treated by local incision and drainage or percutaneous drainage. One tube required surgical removal in the operating room. CONCLUSIONS: Tube jejunostomies can be safely placed at the time of liver transplantation with a low risk of serious complications. We recommend the routine use of j-tubes in patients receiving a liver transplant for the immediate posttransplantation institution of enteral nutrition.