Assessment of standard laboratory tests and rotational thromboelastometry for the prediction of postoperative bleeding in liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative bleeding remains a major challenge in liver transplantation. We aimed to compare standard laboratory tests with thromboelastometry (ROTEM ® ) with regard to their ability to predict postoperative non-surgical bleeding. METHODS: Data from 243 adult liver transplant recipients from January 2012 to May 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. Upon admission to the intensive care unit, coagulation status was assessed using standard laboratory tests [prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen concentration, and platelet count] and ROTEM ® whole blood coagulation assays. Bleeding was defined as transfusion of ≥ 3 units of red blood cells or reoperation for non-surgical bleeding within 48 h after transplantation. Coagulation test results were analysed using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) in order to identify variables predictive of postoperative bleeding. Coagulation management was based on ROTEM ® -guided factor concentrate treatment. RESULTS: The overall incidence of bleeding was 12.3% ( n =30). Twenty-three (9.5%) patients underwent reoperation and seven (2.9%) received ≥3 units of red blood cells and non-operative management. Standard laboratory tests predictive of postoperative bleeding were aPTT and PT [area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.688 and 0.623, respectively]. Tests predictive of bleeding with ROTEM ® were CT EXTEM , CFT INTEM , A10 FIBTEM , and MCF FIBTEM , with AUCs of 0.682, 0.615, 0.615, and 0.611, respectively. Fibrinogen concentration, platelet count, and other ROTEM ® variables failed to demonstrate predictive value for postoperative bleeding (AUC <0.6). Dialysis-dependent kidney failure, 30 day mortality, and median model for endstage liver disease score were all significantly higher in bleeding patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although both postoperative standard laboratory tests and ROTEM ® assays could identify patients at risk for postoperative bleeding, ROTEM ® assays demonstrated a greater predictive value for impaired fibrinogen polymerization-related coagulopathy.

Perioperative use of continuous renal replacement therapy for orthotopic liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: We present a retrospective study describing the perioperative use of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of patients who underwent OLT with the perioperative use of CRRT. The following variables were recorded: Gender, age, indication for transplantation, time when CRRT was initiated, postoperative need for CRRT, and the patient and organ (liver, kidneys) outcome up to 1 year after transplantation. RESULTS: Among 105 patients who underwent OLT from 2006 to 2010; we used CRRT in 12 cases (11.4%) perioperatively, including 9 (8.3%) patients intraoperatively. Perioperative CRRT was employed for volume, electrolyte, and/or pH management. All patients who underwent CRRT perioperatively were alive at 1 month, 10 (83.3%), at 3 and 6 months and 9 (75%) at 1 year after OLT. Only 1 surviving patient (8.3%) required renal replacement therapy at 1 month after surgery. Renal replacement therapy was not required in any surviving patient up to 12 months posttransplantation. CONCLUSION: Perioperative and especially intraoperative use of CRRT therapy can potentially improve the outcomes of patients undergoing OLT.

Liver transplantation for hepatitis C from donation after cardiac death donors: an analysis of OPTN/UNOS data.

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver transplantation is increasing largely because of a shortage of organs. However, there are almost no data that have specifically assessed the impact of using DCD livers for HCV patients. We retrospectively studied adult primary DCD liver transplantation (630 HCV, 1164 non-HCV) and 54 129 donation after brain death (DBD) liver transplantation between 2002 and 2009 using the UNOS/OPTN database. With donation after brain death (DBD) livers, HCV recipients had significantly inferior graft survival compared to non-HCV recipients (p < 0.0001). Contrary to DBD donors, DCD livers used in HCV patients showed no difference in graft survival compared to non-HCV patients (p = 0.5170). Cox models showed DCD livers and HCV disease had poorer graft survival (HR = 1.80 and 1.28, p < 0.0001, respectively). However, the hazard ratio of DCD and HCV interaction was 0.80 (p = 0.02) and these results suggest that DCD livers on HCV disease do not fare worse than DCD livers on non-HCV disease. The graft survival of recent years (2006-2009) was significantly better than that in former years (2002-2005) (p = 0.0482). In conclusion, DCD liver transplantation for HCV disease showed satisfactory outcomes. DCD liver transplantation can be valuable option for HCV related end-stage liver disease.

Fatal hyperammonemia after renal transplant due to late-onset urea cycle deficiency: a case report.

We present a case of severe hyperammonemia with subsequent brain herniation in an adult man after renal transplantation. After successful surgery and an initially uneventful postoperative course, the patient developed significant mental status changes associated with seizure activity. His condition rapidly deteriorated, requiring mechanical ventilation and cardiovascular support. Laboratory studies at that time demonstrated an increased serum ammonia level without evidence of liver or kidney dysfunction. Further investigation revealed an increased orotic acid level in the urine, suggesting a urea cycle disorder (UCD). Despite aggressive therapy, the patient's condition continued to deteriorate. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated severe brain edema with no cerebral perfusion; after consultation with the family, care was withdrawn. The combination of hyperammonemia and elevated urine orotic acid with normal liver and kidney function suggested a UCD. It is important to note that patients with a UCD may be free of symptoms for many years. Several factors are able to trigger the disease in adulthood, leading to encephalopathy and death. In this case, the patient's seizures were initially assumed to be a side effect of immunosuppressive therapy. Further diagnostic measures were only performed late in the course of the disease, which delayed the diagnosis of UCD.