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Objective:To explore the risk factors for the occurrence of thrombocytopenia (TCP) within 2 weeks after pediatric liver transplantation (LT) and examine the relationship between the occurrence of TCP and prognosis.Methods:From January 2021 to November 2021, clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 162 pediatric LT recipients aged under 4 years at Organ Transplantation Center of Tianjin First Central Hospital.Based upon the lowest value of platelet count at Week 2 post-operation, they were assigned into two groups of TCP (n=90) and non-TCP (n=72). General preoperative profiles, intraoperative findings, postoperative complications, types of commonly used antibiotics, anticoagulant dosing and prognosis of two groups were compared.Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized for examining the independent risk factors for TCP.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted for examining the cut-off value of independent risk factors for diagnosing TCP.Results:Among them, 90 (55.56%) developed TCP within 2 weeks post-operation and 25(15.43%) developed TCP at Day 1 post-operation.The median preoperative platelet count was 178×10 9/L and the lowest value was 65×10 9/L at Day 3(1-4) post-operation with a declining rate of 63.5% and platelet count of recipient normalized at Day 6(4-7.25) post-operation.The results of univariate analysis showed statistically significant inter-group differences in operative duration[(574.43±80.53)min vs.(526.75±72.42)min], intraoperative blood loss[400(300, 550)ml vs.320(300, 400)ml], red blood cell transfusion[2(2, 3)U vs.2(1.5, 2.0)U], preoperative platelet count[178.5(141.75, 242.5)×10 9/L vs.257 (209.75, 357)×10 9/L], postoperative infection rate[27.8%(25/90)vs.13.9%(10/72)] and dosing rates of piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium[8.9%(8/90)vs.25.0%(18/72)] ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant inter-group differences in operative duration( P=0.008), red blood cell transfusion( P=0.01), preoperative platelet count( P<0.01) and postoperative infection rate ( P=0.02). The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off values of operative duration, red blood cell transfusion and preoperative platelet count were 535 min, 2.75 U and 183.5×10 9/L respectively.Length of ICU stay was higher in TCP group than that in non-TCP group, and the difference was statistically significant [4(3, 5) vs.3(3, 4) day, P=0.006]. Conclusions:LT children aged under 4 years with intraoperative red blood cell transfusion>2.75 U, operative duration>535 min and preoperative platelet count<183.5×10 9/L are more likely to develop post-transplantation TCP.And occurrence of TCP prolongs the length of ICU stay in pediatric recipients.
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Objective To summarize the experience of diagnosis and treatment of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of one TTS patient after liver transplantation was retrospectively analyzed. Clinical features, diagnosis and treatment strategies were summarized, and literature review was conducted. Results A 43-year-old female patient successfully underwent split liver transplantation due to primary biliary cirrhosis for 8 years. At postoperative 3 d, the patient developed anxiety, irritation, dyspnea, disorientation, hypotension, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) of > 35 000 pg/mL, creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) of 5.9 U/L and troponin I (TnI) of 1.78 μg/L. Electrocardiogram indicated the signs of sinus rhythm. Echocardiography indicated diffuse weakening of the left ventricular wall motion and spherical dilatation of the apex, accompanied with moderate and severe regurgitation of the mitral valve and tricuspid valve. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) declined to 23%, whereas no abnormal segmental motion of ventricular wall or corresponding electrocardiogram changes were observed. The possibility of acute coronary syndrome was excluded. The InterTAK diagnostic score was 73. The diagnosis of TTS after liver transplantation was considered. Metoprolol, coenzyme Q10, recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, deacetyl lanatoside and lorazepam were given. Echocardiography at postoperative 10 d showed that the left ventricular function was significantly improved and the LVEF recovered to 50%. The patient was discharged 40 d after liver transplantation. The liver function was recovered well. During postoperative follow-up, she was given with metoprolol till the submission date, and no recurrence was reported. Conclusions TTS after liver transplantation is rare in clinical practice. It is difficult to make the diagnosis. The condition of TTS is severe and clinical prognosis is poor. Prompt diagnosis and interventions should be implemented.
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Hyperammonemia syndrome (HS) is a comparatively rare but often fatal clinical syndrome characterized by progressive respiratory alkalosis and abrupt mental status alteration associated with markedly elevated plasma ammonium levels. Although the exact mechanism of HS remains unclear, infection with urease producing microbes is proposed as the main etiology of HS recently. A patient with HS after repeated autologous skin transplantation was admitted to Tianjin First Center Hospital in March 2018, presented with fever, coma and epilepsy. The infection of Mycoplasma hominis was confirmed in blood sample by high throughput gene detection. The patient was survived after multimodal management including antimicrobial treatment, aggressive ammonia removal by continuous renal replacement therapy in combination with lactulose, and mechanical ventilation. She was successfully discharged from intensive care unit (ICU) with clear consciousness, normal temperature and smooth breath. In view of the experience of the case treatment, a review of literature was conducted to discuss the epidemiology and clinical characteristics, possible etiologies and mechanisms, and outcomes with emphasis on treatment strategies of HS and to promote more clinicians to recognize this rare disease.
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Objective To discuss the surgical strategy for children with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) and end-stage liver disease (ESLD).Methods We reported two eases of pediatric liver transplantation in patients with complex CHD and ESLD.Medical data including operation procedure,ICU management and outcomes were reviewed retrospectively.Also we reviewed the literature on the topic of clinical outcomes resulted from different surgery options.Results The first case was a seven-month-old male patient with biliary atresia and complex CHD (unroofed coronary sinus syndrome,persistent left superior vena cava,patent foramen ovale,and peripheral pulmonary stenosis).Liver transplantation was successfully performed without corrective heart surgery.The operation time was 6 h and 35 min.The patient suffered acute cardiac dysfunction and significant hypoxemia after extubation,then pneumonia developed,and eventually the patient died on post-operative day 12.The second case was a seven-month-old male patient with biliary atresia and complex CHD (ventricular septal defect,patent foramen ovale,patent ductus arteriosus,pulmonary stenosis).Liver transplantation was performed on the same day following total correction of cardiac defects by open-heart surgery.The operation time was 16 h and 15 min.The patient was extubated after 60 h ventilation,and was transferred to ward from ICU on post-operative day 6 with stable cardiopulmonary function.However,hepatic artery occlusion occurred on early postoperative stage,and consequently the patient received the second liver transplantation for ischemic biliary complication on post-operative day 40.The second liver transplantation procedure was uneventful.The liver graft recovered smoothly with stable hemodynamics.Conclusion Children with complex CHD undergoing liver transplantation are at an increased perioperative risk.The surgical strategy for each patient must be tailored individually according to specific cardiovascular status and limited hepatic reserve.
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Objective To explore the effectiveness of octreotide therapeutic strategy to attenuate portal hyperperfusion resulted from small-for-size graft in infant liver transplantation.Methods A total of 22 infants received small-for-size liver graft (defined as GV/SLV＜0.5,and GV＜ 150 g) in our hospital from December 2013 to August 2016.Twelve cases (octreotide group) were treated with intravenous octreotide infusion (300 g daily for 24-96 h) to attenuate the portal hyperperfusion after transplantation,and the rest 10 cases given liver transplantation at the early stage did not receive the intervention of octreotide and served as control group.Results The initial portal vein flows (PVFs) in octreotide group and control group were (413.43 ± 76.24) (390.83 ± 107.89) ml/(min 100 g),and there was no significant difference between two groups (P＞0.05).The PVFs on postoperative day (POD) 3 and POD5 in octreotide group and control group were (334.90 ± 96.67) and (441.04 ± 117.41),and (322.20 ± 81.04) and (423.23 ± 100.81) mL/(min 100 g) respectively (P＜0.05 for all).However,there were no significant differences in serum AST and bilirubin levels at four time points (initial,POD3,POD5 and POD7) after transplantation between two groups (P＞0.05).The incidence of hepatic artery occlusion,and biliary complications in octreotide group and ontrol group was 33.33％ and 44.44％,and 33.33％ and 11.11％ respectively (P ＞ 0.05 for all).Conclusion Octreotide treatment attenuated portal hyperperfusion resulted from small-for-size graft in infant liver transplantation.However,the effects of octreotide therapy on graft biochemical tests,the hepatic artery and biliary complications were still unclear,and further investigation is needed.
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Objective To explore the effectiveness of octreotide therapeutic strategy to attenuate portal hyperperfusion resulted from small-for-size graft in infant liver transplantation.Methods A total of 22 infants received small-for-size liver graft (defined as GV/SLV＜0.5,and GV＜ 150 g) in our hospital from December 2013 to August 2016.Twelve cases (octreotide group) were treated with intravenous octreotide infusion (300 g daily for 24-96 h) to attenuate the portal hyperperfusion after transplantation,and the rest 10 cases given liver transplantation at the early stage did not receive the intervention of octreotide and served as control group.Results The initial portal vein flows (PVFs) in octreotide group and control group were (413.43 ± 76.24) (390.83 ± 107.89) ml/(min 100 g),and there was no significant difference between two groups (P＞0.05).The PVFs on postoperative day (POD) 3 and POD5 in octreotide group and control group were (334.90 ± 96.67) and (441.04 ± 117.41),and (322.20 ± 81.04) and (423.23 ± 100.81) mL/(min 100 g) respectively (P＜0.05 for all).However,there were no significant differences in serum AST and bilirubin levels at four time points (initial,POD3,POD5 and POD7) after transplantation between two groups (P＞0.05).The incidence of hepatic artery occlusion,and biliary complications in octreotide group and ontrol group was 33.33％ and 44.44％,and 33.33％ and 11.11％ respectively (P ＞ 0.05 for all).Conclusion Octreotide treatment attenuated portal hyperperfusion resulted from small-for-size graft in infant liver transplantation.However,the effects of octreotide therapy on graft biochemical tests,the hepatic artery and biliary complications were still unclear,and further investigation is needed.
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Objective To summarize the clinical course of acute interstitial pneumonitis (AIP) associated pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) in 8 recipients after liver transplantation,and further discuss the potential risk factors and therapeutic highlights.Methods A total of 476 pediatric patients received liver transplantation in Tianjin First Center Hospital from January 2012 to September 2016.Among them,8 cases of AIP associated PARDS in ICU were recruited in this study.Medical data including clinical presentation,ICU management and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.Results The onset time-window of AIP associated PARDS was (2.67 ± 0.77) months after liver transplantation,and the time interval between initial symptom and ICU administration was (6.75 ± 5.82) days.Five cases had the history of acute rejection therapy,and 5 cases had CMV and/or EBV viremia history.All 8 cases received mechanical ventilation,2 cases given nasal non-invasive ventilation and the rest 6 cases given invasive ventilation,3 of which were switched to high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) combined with inhaled nitric oxide.At the stage of hypoxic climax,the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) was up-regulated to 1.0 to maintain the oxygenation index (OI) of (25.24 ± 5.94).Temporary replacement of immunosuppressants with intravenous glucocorticoids was implemented in all 8 cases without acute rejection episode.Of 8 cases,2 cases died from PARDS,1 case died from portal thrombosis associated hepatic failure,and the rest 5 cases survived.Conclusion AIP associated PARDS is a critical complication with high mortality in pediatric patients after liver transplantation.Excessively strong immunosuppression therapy at early post-transplant stage shows a risk factor for AIP.Lung protective ventilation strategy and HFOV are recommended to reduce ventilator induced lung injury in pediatric patients.Temporary intravenous glucocorticoids may reduce acute inflammatory reaction in PARDS patients without increasing the risk of acute rejection.
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Objective To evaluate the effect of heparin and argatroban on the coagulating function and the vascular thrombosis in the early period after pediatric living related liver transplantation (LRLT).Method Eighty-four congenital biliary atresia pediatric patients who had performed LRLT were involved in this study.According to the method of anticoagulation,the patients were divided into two groups (heparin group and argatroban group).Antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ) activity,activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and international normalized ratio (INR) of two groups were measured in the first 5 days after LRLT.In order to determine whether vascular thrombosis existed,Doppler ultrasound was performed daily.Result There were no significant differences in gender,age,body weight,graft-recipient weight ratio and whether to accept Kassi procedure between two groups.The AT-Ⅲ activity of two groups was low and increased gradually after operation.There was no significant difference between two groups.There were no significant differences in APTT and INR between two groups immediate and at first day after operation.After anticoagulation,the differences in APTT and INR between two groups were significant.The incidence of vascular thrombosis was 4.76％ (3/63) and 0(0/21) respectively in heparin and argatroban groups.There was no significant difference between two groups.During treatment,there were no severe complications in two groups,such as active hemorrhage and allergy.Conclusion Argatroban is a direct anticoagulant.It is independent on the level of AT-Ⅲ activity.It may play an important role for preventing vascular thrombosis after pediatric LRLT.