Haemodynamic monitoring and liver function evaluation by pulsion cold system Z-201 (PCS) during orthotopic liver transplantation

Pulsion cold system (PCS, COLD) is a haemodynamic monitoring system that allows measurement of cardiac output (CO), partial blood volumes, lung water, and liver function. The aim of the study was to evaluate this monitoring system during human orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for the following: (a) to determine agreement between CO measurements via pulmonary artery thermodilution (CO TDpa), and aortic transpulmonary thermodilution (CO TDa); (b) to compare the preload dates obtained with the COLD with central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary wedge (PCWP); and (c) to assess the use of the plasma disappearance rate (PDR) of indocyanine green (ICG) as a measure of graft function. Fifteen consecutive patients undergoing OLT were studied. Each patient received a pulmonary artery catheter and a 5F aortic catheter with an integrated thermistor. The thermistor of the aortic catheter were connected to one computer system (COLD-Z201, Pulsion Medical Systems, Munich, Germany). Haemodynamic data were registered an all the phases of OLT. PDR was measured during surgery in 12 patients. Correlations between PDR and the other markers of graft function (transaminases, protrombine time, and bile production) were sought. The correlation coefficient between CO TDa (COLD) and CO TDpa was r = 0.766 (p < 0.001), and an additional analysis according to Bland-Altman was also performed. There was a better correlation between the cardiac index (determined by two monitoring systems) and the volume measurements than the correlation observed with pressure preload parameters. The best correlations were found between the cardiac index in the femoral artery and intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) and pulmonary blood volume index (PBVI) (r = 0.79 and r = 0.72, respectively; p < 0.01). PDR measured in the group patients with bad early graft function were lower (13.6 +/- 2.7) than those in the group with a good graft function (21.6 +/- 9) (p < 0.05). The degree of discrepancy between femoral and pulmonary thermodilution cardiac output measures is very wide during OLT so as to make the techniques using the COLD machine clinically useless. On the other hand, the volumes measured by COLD, specially ITBVI and PBVI, are more useful to asses the pre-load than pressure measurements. In OLT, the PDR measured within the first few hours after liver reperfusion may become a useful tool for early diagnosis of primary graft dysfunction (PDF).     

Remnant liver function during surgery for extensive hepatic resection

True functional reserve of remnant liver should be determined at the same condition that contemplated hepatectomy has been performed, and this condition can be achieved before resection by temporary lamping of the inflow vessels of hepatic lobes to be removed. Using indocyanine green (ICG), the remnant liver function (RLF) was evaluated whether or not the method can be a useful indicator for or against hepatomy. In the study of healthy dogs, the RLF proved to be a reliable indicator to prospect hepatic failure which may occur after extensive resection of the liver. Then, the method was employed in nine patients who underwent 40 to 70 per cent hepatectomy. The results indicated that the RLF with ICG during surgery, if performed under stable hemodynamics, is a beneficial tool to decide the resectability in equivocal cases.     

Influence of cumulative number of marginal donor criteria on primary organ dysfunction in liver recipients

BACKGROUND: The aim of this cohort study was to assess the cumulative effect of marginal donor criteria on initial graft function and patient survival after liver transplantation. METHODS: We included 734 consecutive patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at the Vienna General Hospital between January 1993 and December 2003. We employed the local registry of the Department of Transplant Surgery, where variables of all patients are routinely and prospectively recorded. Primary outcome was initial graft function, secondary outcome was patient survival. RESULTS: Cumulative number of marginal donor criteria was significantly and linearly associated with an increased rate of primary dysfunction (PDF; p = 0.005). In patients with more than three cumulative marginal donor criteria the rate of PDF was 36%. Patient survival was not influenced by the cumulative number of donor criteria (log-rank test, p = 0.81). Independent marginal donor criteria to predict PDF were cold ischemia time >10 h [odds ratio (OR) 0.56; 95% CI 0.32-0.98] and donor peak serum sodium >155 mEq/L (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.26-0.77), as assessed in a multivariate regression model. CONCLUSIONS: The use of marginal liver donors with more than three marginal donor criteria shows deleterious effects on initial graft function. Noteworthy, patient survival was not associated with marginal donor criteria, which may be explained by early and successful retransplantation of liver recipients with primary non-function.     

Impact of imbalanced graft‐to‐spleen volume ratio on outcomes following living donor liver transplantation in an era when simultaneous splenectomy is not typically indicated

The impact of an imbalanced graft‐to‐spleen volume ratio (GSVR) on posttransplant outcomes other than postreperfusion portal hypertension remains unknown. The importance of GSVR might vary according to whether simultaneous splenectomy (SPX) is performed. This retrospective study divided 349 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients from 2006 to 2017 into 2 groups: low GSVR (≤0.70 g/mL) and normal GSVR (>0.70 g/mL). The cutoff value of GSVR was set based on the first quartile of the distributed data. Graft survival and associations with various clinical factors were investigated between the groups according to whether SPX was performed. Low GSVR did not affect outcomes when SPX was performed. In contrast, it was associated with an increased incidence of early graft loss (EGL) and poor graft survival by presenting posttransplant thrombocytopenia, cholestasis, coagulopathy, and massive ascites when the spleen was preserved. Among patients with a preserved spleen, the multivariable analysis results revealed that older donor age and low GSVR were independent risk factors for graft loss. In conclusion, low GSVR was an independent predictor of graft loss after LDLT when the spleen was preserved. Preserved spleen with extremely low GSVR may be related to persistent hypersplenism, impaired graft function, and consequent EGL.