| Abstract: | Different methods and components of anesthesia during operations in donors and recipients were studied by using the experience in maintaining anesthesia during 39 relative and 7 cadaveric hepatic transplantations. The experience in using epidural anesthesia and total intravenous anesthesia at the donor stage of hepatic lobar transplantation was comparatively analyzed. Combined epidural anesthesia (CEA) may be used during long-term and traumatic operations dealing with hepatic lobectomy in a relative donor since it is noted for low hepatotoxicity and no drastic hemodynamic exposures. CEA can substantially reduce pharmacological loading with opioids or myorelaxants, which is particularly important in taking the lobe of the liver. This reduces the recovery period of adequate own respiration, activates a patient more rapidly, substantially reduces the risk for postoperative iatrogenic complications. Balanced general anesthesia whose major component is inhalational anesthesia with isoflurane is the method of choice in performing an operation in the recipient. The use of isoflurane in the minimal-flow mode is cost-effective and safe. When anesthesia is performed in the recipient, it is necessary to take in account drastic hemodynamic pattern changes at the liverless stage during vein-venous bypass surgery, including the liver into systemic circulation, and the likelihood of development of significant reperfusion and concomitant metabolic and coagulative disorders. |
