Thoracic epidural analgesia and immediate extubation for less than 10 kg infants undergoing living donor liver transplantation: A report of two successful cases.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative pain management in small infants weighing <10 kg undergoing liver transplantation is challenging. The use of TEA in this setting has not been reported, as well as its potential role to facilitate IE, ie, in the OR. METHODS: We describe here the use of TEA in two small infants who had IE after a LDLT procedure. RESULTS: TEA was successfully performed and IE was achieved in both cases. Postoperative analgesia assessment in the OR was satisfactory according to the FLACC pain scale, with scores of 2 and 3 for each patient, respectively. There were no major complications in the postoperative period, and the two children were discharged home uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: The use of TEA and its influence on IE rate and other perioperative outcomes should be more explored in small infants undergoing LDLT.

Primary graft dysfunction of the liver: definitions, diagnostic criteria and risk factors / Disfunção primária do enxerto hepático: definições, critérios diagnósticos e fatores de risco

ABSTRACT Primary graft dysfunction is a multifactorial syndrome with great impact on liver transplantation outcomes. This review article was based on studies published between January 1980 and June 2015 and retrieved from PubMed database using the following search terms: “primary graft dysfunction”, “early allograft dysfunction”, “primary non-function” and “liver transplantation”. Graft dysfunction describes different grades of graft ischemia-reperfusion injury and can manifest as early allograft dysfunction or primary graft non-function, its most severe form. Donor-, surgery- and recipient-related factors have been associated with this syndrome. Primary graft dysfunction definition, diagnostic criteria and risk factors differ between studies.

RESUMO A disfunção primária do enxerto hepático é uma síndrome multifatorial com grande impacto no resultado do transplante de fígado. Foi realizada uma ampla revisão da literatura, consultando a base de dados PubMed, em busca de estudos publicados entre janeiro de 1980 e junho de 2015. Os termos descritivos utilizados foram: “primary graft dysfunction”, “early allograft dysfunction”, “primary non-function” e “liver transplantation”. A disfunção traduz graus diferentes da lesão de isquemia e reperfusão do órgão, e pode se manifestar como disfunção precoce ou, na forma mais grave, pelo não funcionamento primário do enxerto. Fatores relacionados ao doador, ao transplante e ao receptor contribuem para essa síndrome. Existem definições diferentes na literatura quanto ao diagnóstico e aos fatores de risco associados à disfunção primária.

Primary graft dysfunction of the liver: definitions, diagnostic criteria and risk factors.

Primary graft dysfunction is a multifactorial syndrome with great impact on liver transplantation outcomes. This review article was based on studies published between January 1980 and June 2015 and retrieved from PubMed database using the following search terms: "primary graft dysfunction", "early allograft dysfunction", "primary non-function" and "liver transplantation". Graft dysfunction describes different grades of graft ischemia-reperfusion injury and can manifest as early allograft dysfunction or primary graft non-function, its most severe form. Donor-, surgery- and recipient-related factors have been associated with this syndrome. Primary graft dysfunction definition, diagnostic criteria and risk factors differ between studies. RESUMO A disfunção primária do enxerto hepático é uma síndrome multifatorial com grande impacto no resultado do transplante de fígado. Foi realizada uma ampla revisão da literatura, consultando a base de dados PubMed, em busca de estudos publicados entre janeiro de 1980 e junho de 2015. Os termos descritivos utilizados foram: "primary graft dysfunction", "early allograft dysfunction", "primary non-function" e "liver transplantation". A disfunção traduz graus diferentes da lesão de isquemia e reperfusão do órgão, e pode se manifestar como disfunção precoce ou, na forma mais grave, pelo não funcionamento primário do enxerto. Fatores relacionados ao doador, ao transplante e ao receptor contribuem para essa síndrome. Existem definições diferentes na literatura quanto ao diagnóstico e aos fatores de risco associados à disfunção primária.

Intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

Intestinal transplantation has shown exceptional growth over the past 10 years. At the end of the 1990's, intestinal transplantation moved out of the experimental realm to become a routine practice in treating patients with severe complications related to total parenteral nutrition and intestinal failure. In the last years, several centers reported an increasing improvement in survival outcomes (about 80%), during the first 12 months after surgery, but long-term survival is still a challenge. Several advances led to clinical application of transplants. Immunosuppression involved in intestinal and multivisceral transplantation was the biggest gain for this procedure in the past decade due to tacrolimus, and new inducing drugs, mono- and polyclonal anti-lymphocyte antibodies. Despite the advancement of rigid immunosuppression protocols, rejection is still very frequent in the first 12 months, and can result in long-term graft loss. The future of intestinal transplantation and multivisceral transplantation appears promising. The major challenge is early recognition of acute rejection in order to prevent graft loss, opportunistic infections associated to complications, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and graft versus host disease; and consequently, improve results in the long run.

Liver transplantation: history, outcomes and perspectives.

In 1958 Francis Moore described the orthotopic liver transplantation technique in dogs. In 1963, Starzl et al. performed the first liver transplantation. In the first five liver transplantations no patient survived more than 23 days. In 1967, stimulated by Calne who used antilymphocytic serum, Starzl began a successful series of liver transplantation. Until 1977, 200 liver transplantations were performed in the world. In that period, technical problems were overcome. Roy Calne, in 1979, used the first time cyclosporine in two patients who had undergone liver transplantation. In 1989, Starzl et al. reported a series of 1,179 consecutives patients who underwent liver transplantation and reported a survival rate between one and five years of 73% and 64%, respectively. Finally, in 1990, Starzl et al. reported successful use of tacrolimus in patents undergoing liver transplantation and who had rejection despite receiving conventional immunosuppressive treatment. Liver Transplantation Program was initiated at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in 1990 and so far over 1,400 transplants have been done. In 2013, 102 deceased donors liver transplantations were performed. The main indications for transplantation were hepatocellular carcinoma (38%), hepatitis C virus (33.3%) and alcohol liver cirrhosis (19.6%). Of these, 36% of patients who underwent transplantation showed biological MELD score > 30. Patient and graft survival in the first year was, 82.4% and 74.8%, respectively. A major challenge in liver transplantation field is the insufficient number of donors compared with the growing demand of transplant candidates. Thus, we emphasize that appropriated donor/receptor selection, allocation and organ preservation topics should contribute to improve the number and outcomes in liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation: history, outcomes and perspectives / Transplante de fígado: história, resultados e perspectivas

In 1958 Francis Moore described the orthotopic liver transplantation technique in dogs. In 1963, Starzl et al. performed the first liver transplantation. In the first five liver transplantations no patient survived more than 23 days. In 1967, stimulated by Calne who used antilymphocytic serum, Starzl began a successful series of liver transplantation. Until 1977, 200 liver transplantations were performed in the world. In that period, technical problems were overcome. Roy Calne, in 1979, used the first time cyclosporine in two patients who had undergone liver transplantation. In 1989, Starzl et al. reported a series of 1,179 consecutives patients who underwent liver transplantation and reported a survival rate between one and five years of 73% and 64%, respectively. Finally, in 1990, Starzl et al. reported successful use of tacrolimus in patents undergoing liver transplantation and who had rejection despite receiving conventional immunosuppressive treatment. Liver Transplantation Program was initiated at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in 1990 and so far over 1,400 transplants have been done. In 2013, 102 deceased donors liver transplantations were performed. The main indications for transplantation were hepatocellular carcinoma (38%), hepatitis C virus (33.3%) and alcohol liver cirrhosis (19.6%). Of these, 36% of patients who underwent transplantation showed biological MELD score > 30. Patient and graft survival in the first year was, 82.4% and 74.8%, respectively. A major challenge in liver transplantation field is the insufficient number of donors compared with the growing demand of transplant candidates. Thus, we emphasize that appropriated donor/receptor selection, allocation and organ preservation topics should contribute to improve the number and outcomes in liver transplantation.

Em 1958, Francis Moore descreveu a técnica do transplante de fígado em cães. Em 1963, Starzl e sua equipe realizaram o primeiro transplante de fígado. Nos primeiros cinco transplante de fígado, nenhum paciente sobreviveu mais que 23 dias. Até 1977, aproximadamente 200 transplante de fígado tinham sido realizados no mundo. Neste período, foi estabelecida a solução de problemas técnicos do transplante de fígado. Calne, em 1979, utilizou, pela primeira vez, a ciclosporina em dois pacientes submetidos ao transplante de fígado. Starzl e seus colaboradores relataram, já em 1989, que a sobrevida de 1.179 pacientes submetidos ao transplante de fígado em 1 e 5 anos foi, respectivamente, de 73 e 64%. Finalmente, em 1990, Starzl relatou o primeiro uso do novo imunossupressor tacrolimo em pacientes de transplante de fígado que apresentavam rejeição mesmo com o tratamento imunossupressor convencional. O transplante de fígado iniciou-se no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein em 1990 e já foram realizados mais de 1.400 transplantes. Em 2013, foram realizados 102 transplantes de fígado de doadores falecidos. As principais indicações para o transplante foram carcinoma hepatocelular (38%), cirrose hepática secundária ao vírus C (33,3%) e cirrose alcoólica (19,6%). Destes, 36% dos transplantes apresentavam MELD biológico superior a 30. As sobrevidas do paciente e do enxerto no primeiro ano foram, respectivamente, 82,4 e 74,8%. Um dos maiores desafios da área do transplante de fígado é o número insuficiente de doadores para uma demanda crescente de candidatos ao procedimento. Dessa forma, destacamos que tópicos relacionados à seleção de doadores/receptores, alocação e preservação de órgãos devem contribuir para o aumento e a melhora dos resultados do transplante de fígado.

Intestinal and multivisceral transplantation / Transplante intestinal e multivisceral

Intestinal transplantation has shown exceptional growth over the past 10 years. At the end of the 1990’s, intestinal transplantation moved out of the experimental realm to become a routine practice in treating patients with severe complications related to total parenteral nutrition and intestinal failure. In the last years, several centers reported an increasing improvement in survival outcomes (about 80%), during the first 12 months after surgery, but long-term survival is still a challenge. Several advances led to clinical application of transplants. Immunosuppression involved in intestinal and multivisceral transplantation was the biggest gain for this procedure in the past decade due to tacrolimus, and new inducing drugs, mono- and polyclonal anti-lymphocyte antibodies. Despite the advancement of rigid immunosuppression protocols, rejection is still very frequent in the first 12 months, and can result in long-term graft loss. The future of intestinal transplantation and multivisceral transplantation appears promising. The major challenge is early recognition of acute rejection in order to prevent graft loss, opportunistic infections associated to complications, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and graft versus host disease; and consequently, improve results in the long run.

O transplante de intestino, ao redor do mundo, tem crescido de maneira sólida e consistente nos últimos 10 anos. No final da década de 1990, passou de um modelo experimental para uma prática clínica rotineira no tratamento dos pacientes com complicação severa da nutrição parenteral total com falência intestinal. Nos últimos anos, vários centros têm relatado uma crescente melhora nos resultados de sobrevida do transplante no primeiro ano (ao redor de 80%), porém, a longo prazo, ainda é desafiador. Diversos avanços permitiram sua aplicação clínica. O surgimento de novas drogas imunossupressoras, como o tacrolimus, além das drogas indutoras, os anticorpos antilinfocíticos mono e policlonal, nos últimos 10 anos, foi de suma importância para a melhora da sobrevida do transplante de intestino/multivisceral, mas, apesar dos protocolos bastante rígidos de imunossupressão, a rejeição é bastante frequente, podendo levar a altas taxas de perdas de enxerto a longo prazo. O futuro do transplante de intestino e multivisceral parece promissor. O grande desafio é reconhecer precocemente os casos de rejeição, prevenindo a perda do enxerto e melhorando os resultados a longo prazo, além das complicações causadas por infecções oportunistas, doenças linfoproliferativas pós-transplante e a doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro.