Anesthesia for liver transplantation: the experience of the University of Bologna in the MELD era.

AIM: The hepatic cirrhosis is associated with an important cardiovascular alterations. In this report, we review our transplant center experience with liver transplantation in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) era, in particular this study investigate the relationship between severity of liver disease assessed by MELD score and postoperative events. METHODS: Our retrospective review was performed on 242 cirrhotic patients underwent liver transplanation at the Department of Surgery and Transplantation of the University of Bologna. Biochemical and hemodynamic variables were evaluated by Swan-Ganz catherization. Dindo's classification of postoperative complications was used for the evaluation of postoperative course. RESULTS: Morbidity occurred in 158 patients (65.2%) and 13 patients died during the hospital stay. Considering the highest grade of complication occurred, non life-threatening complications occurred in the 47.9% of cases (116 patients) and life-threatening complications, excluding patient death, in 17.3% (42 patients). Patients with MELD >30 showed a longer ICU stay, tracheal intubation and in-hospital stay. CONCLUSION: In conclusion MELD score is tightly related to postoperative complications.

Hyperdynamic circulation in acute liver failure: reperfusion syndrome and outcome following liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver transplantation (OLT) is a valid therapeutic option for patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). The most critical phase during OLT is considered to be graft reperfusion, where in large changes in patient homeostasis occur. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the hemodynamic and cardiac changes among a large series of patients with FHF, to determine independent clinical predictors of the occurrence of postreperfusion syndrome (PSR) and its relationship to clinical and hemodynamic parameters and transplant outcomes. METHODS: Systemic hemodynamic and cardiac functions were evaluated by Swan-Ganz catheterization in 58 patients before OLT. The patients were divided into two subgroups on the basis of PSR, which was defined as a mean arterial blood pressure 30% lower than the immediate previous value lasting for at least 1 minute within 5 minutes after unclamping. RESULTS: PSR occurred in 24 patients (41%). Significant differences upon bivariate analysis was observed for the Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, which was significantly higher among patients with PSR, namely 32 (range = 18-43) versus 23 (range = 12-32) (P = .001). Higher serum creatinine values were significantly different among patients with PSR: 1.4 (range = 1.2-2.2) versus 2.1 (range = 2.5-3.2) mg/dL (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Systemic hemodynamic alterations of FHF progressively worsen with increasing severity of liver disease. PSR developed in approximately 40% of patients; its prevalence was significantly related to the severity of the disease. Finally, patients with renal failure showed greater risk to develop an PSR during OLT.

Pretransplant model for end-stage liver disease score as a predictor of postoperative complications after liver transplantation.

The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) is used to determine organ allocation priorities for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), although its value to predict posttransplantation mortality and morbility is controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze postoperative courses and (to evaluate the relationships between MELD score and postoperative) complications. We retrospectively examined the courses of 242 patients including 186 males and 56 females of overall mean age of 53 +/- 10 years who underwent primary liver transplantation. The classification of Dindo-characterized 5 grades of severity to evaluate postoperative events. The data showed that 171 patients (70.7%) experienced complications, while 71 (29.3%) had none. We observed that MELD score and complications were related (P < .05). Patients with complicated courses post-OLT displayed a 22.80 mean value of the MELD score, while those without complications showed a 17.64 mean value. The MELD score was also significantly associated with the time of intensive care unit stay and in hospital. Finally, we noted that MELD score and mortality were significantly correlated (P < .05). In conclusion, MELD score can be considered to be an objective system to predict the prevalence and severity of postoperative complications after liver transplantation.

Fluid management of patients undergoing intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

Small bowel transplantation can be associated with large fluid shifts due to massive blood loss, dehydration, vascular clamping, long ischemia times, intraoperative visceral exposure, intestinal denervation, ischemic damage, and lymphatic interruption. Fluid management is the major intra- and postoperative problem after small bowel and multiple organ transplantation, because of the highly variable fluid and electrolyte needs of the transplant recipient. Third-space fluid requirements can be massive; inadequate replacement leads to end-organ dysfunction, particularly renal failure. Several liters of fluid may be required in the initial 24 to 48 hours postoperatively to simply maintain an adequate central pressure to provide a satisfactory urine output. During this time patients may develop extensive peripheral edema, which dissipates over the next few days as the fluids are mobilized and requirements stabilize. Based on our experience in 29 cases of intestinal transplantation and 4 cases of multivisceral transplantation, we have herein described the intraoperative fluid management and hemodynamic changes. Our study confirmed a large quantity of fluid administration during and after small bowel transplantation that required adequate volume monitoring.

Acute renal failure after liver transplantation in MELD era.

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was used in our center from 2003 to assess the position of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) candidates on a waiting list. A key component of MELD score in the assessment of the degree of the illness is renal function. In this study, we measured the effects of this new scoring system on renal function and therapeutic strategies. We evaluated the incidence of acute renal function (ARF) after OLT requiring renal replacement therapy (hemofiltration or hemodialysis) in two patient groups: 240 transplanted before MELD era and 224 after the introduction of this parameter to select candidates. ARF occurred in 8.3% of patients in the pre-MELD group versus 13% in the MELD group, while the mortality rates were 40% and 27%, respectively. The creatinine level before OLT seemed to be a good predictor of ARF (P < .001), and blood transfusion rates (P < .05) as well as intraoperative diuresis (P < .05). In our analysis we did not observe a correlation between MELD score and postoperative ARF.

Combined liver transplants: main characteristics from the standpoint of anesthesia and support in intensive care.

Combined transplants with the liver represent a small number of associated pathologies with little chance of resolving with a single transplant. The small case number prevents us from establishing homogeneous criteria for the procedure. The insertion of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease in the preoperative evaluation of the patients awaiting liver transplant has definitely increased the number of combined liver-kidney transplants, which have reached more significant numbers. The number of heart-liver transplants is still too low to establish the efficacy of the measure. The multiorgan transplant with the liver represents a rare event entrusted to a series of case reports, each one of which has a history unto itself. Our experience in this field includes 14 combined liver-kidney, six combined heart-liver, and two multiorgan transplants with liver among 36 intestine transplants. We have examined the main pre-, intra-, and postsurgical problems for each one of these transplants, particularly relating to the anesthetic and intensive-care aspects.

Intensive care complications in liver and multivisceral transplantation.

The complications concerning liver and intestinal transplant surgery have relevance for the field of intensive care because they share some characteristics with those following complex long-term surgery. Thus, in this article we shall try to describe complications that are specific to liver and multivisceral transplants. A review of the existing literature on this topic reveals a large number of studies dedicated to early as well as late surgical complications, and immunosuppressive treatment, while there are far fewer contributions describing complications exclusively concerning intensive care. We shall thus attempt to focus on certain aspects where, besides the literature data, we have personal experience. In particular we want to underline the implications of failure in the functional recovery of the graft; alterations in water, electrolyte, and glycemic balance; as well as neurological, respiratory, renal, nutritional, and infective complications.