Intraoperative effect of dexmedetomidine infusion during living donor liver transplantation: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride (Dex) is a useful adjuvant for general anesthesia. The aim was to evaluate the effects of Dex infusion during living donors liver transplantation (LDLT) on the general anesthetic requirements, hemodynamics, oxygen consumption (VO2), and CO2 production (VCO2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty LDLT recipients were allocated randomly to receive either Dex (0.2-0.7 µg/kg/h) or placebo (control [C]). Patient state index (PSI), SEDLine monitored anesthesia depth (25-50) with desflurane (Des) % and fentanyl altered accordingly. Transesophageal Doppler (TED), invasive mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were monitoring any Dex side effects and altering infusion rate accordingly; TED was used for fluid optimization. Metabolic gas monitoring (VO2, VCO2) and Des consumption were recorded. RESULTS: Dex reduced Des and fentanyl consumption versus C (120.0 ± 30.2 vs. 248.0 ± 38.8) ml, (440.0 ± 195.74 vs. 1300.0 ± 32) µg, respectively (P < 0.01). Dex was delivered for 11.35 ± 2.45 h with comparable HR, MAP, and TED variables versus C and with similar mean noradrenaline support (5.63 ± 2.44 vs. 5.83 ± 2.57 mg, P = 0.81). VO2 was reduced with Dex vs. C during anhepatic, 30 min postreperfusion and end of surgery (193.2 ± 26.78 vs. 239 ± 14.93) (172.1 ± 28.14 vs. 202.7 ± 18.03) and (199.7 ± 26.63 vs. 283.8 ± 14.83) ml/min/m(2) respectively (P < 0.01). VCO2 was also reduced with Dex versus C during the same periods (195.2 ± 46.41 vs. 216.7 ± 29.90, P = 0.09), (210.6 ± 60.71 vs. 253.9 ± 32.51, P = 0.01), and (158.7 ± 49.96 vs. 209.7 ± 16.78, P < 0.01), ml/min/m(2) respectively. CONCLUSION: TED and PSI guided Dex infusion helped to reduce Des and fentanyl consumption as well as VO2 and VCO2 at a lower cost with no adverse effects on hemodynamics.

Effect of intraoperative magnesium intravenous infusion on the hemodynamic changes associated with right lobe living donor hepatotomy under transesophageal Doppler monitoring-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Liver donors are subjected to specific postresection hemodynamic changes. The aim was to monitor these changes and to evaluate the effect of magnesium sulfate infusion (MgSO4) on these changes together with total anesthetic agents consumption. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 50 donors scheduled for right hepatotomy were divided into two equal groups. Controls (C) received saline and magnesium group (Mg) received MgSO4 10% (30 mg/kg over 20 min) administered immediately after induction of anesthesia, followed by infusion (10 mg/kg/h) till the end of surgery. Hemodynamics, transesophageal Doppler (TED) data and anesthetic depth guided by Entropy were recorded. RESULTS: Postresection both groups demonstrated an increase in heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (COP) in association with lowering of systemic vascular resistance (SVR). The increase in HR with Mg was lower when compared with C, P = 0.00. Increase in COP was lower with Mg compared to (C) (6.1 ± 1.3 vs. 7.5 ± 1.6 L/min, P = 0.00) and with less reduction in SVR compared to C (1145 ± 251 vs. 849.2 ± 215 dynes.s/cm(5), P < 0.01), respectively. Sevoflurane consumption was lower with Mg compared to C (157.1 ± 35.1 vs. 187.6 ± 25.6 ml, respectively, P = 0.001). Reduced fentanyl and rocuronium consumption in Mg group are compared to C (P = 0.00). Extubation time, postoperative patient-controlled fentanyl were lower in Mg than C (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: TED was able to detect significant hemodynamic changes associated with major hepatotomy. Prophylactic magnesium helped to reduce these changes with lower anesthetic and analgesics consumption and an improvement in postoperative pain relief.

DESFLURANE COMPARED TO SEVOFLURANE FOR CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS UNDERGOING MAJOR LIVER RESECTION. A RANDOMIZED CONTROL STUDY.

BACKGROUND: Major liver resection is associated with haemodynamic, hepatic and renal changes as a result of the procedure. AIM: To compare Desflurane (D) versus Sevoflurane (S) on hepatic, renal functions, haemodynamics and perioperative course for cirrhotic patients undergoing major liver resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized control study with 50 patients (Child A) (D, n = 25 and S, n = 25). End tidal D or S adjusted with Entropy (40-60). Haemodynamics monitored with invasive blood pressure and trans-oesophageal Doppler (TED). Liver and kidney function tests, blood Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), urinary microalbuminuria (Microalb) were assayed. Extubation time and anaesthetic consumption were recorded. RESULTS: Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) post-resection and stroke volume of D vs S were 835.04 ± 12.02 vs 778.16 ± 11.97 dyn.sec.cm(-5), P < 0.01, and 85.72 ± 2.95 vs 76.16 ± 6.52 ml, P < 0.01 respectively. Doppler corrected flow time (FTc) between groups were comparable (P > 0.05). No difference post-operatively regarding hepatic and renal functions, and urine Microalb (14.76 ± 3.95 vs l4.24 ± 8.65 µg/ml, P = 0.78), but a statistically difference was found with GST (0.046 ± [symbols: see text], vs 0.043 ± [symbols: see text] IU/ml, P < 0.01). Despite a higher D consumption (73 ± 17 vs 64 ± 22 ml, P = 0.102), cost in Egyptian pounds (LE) was lower with D (141.14 ± 32.90 vs 320.60 ± 114.01, LE, P < 0.01). Extubation time and ICU stay with D vS (4.52 ± 2 vs 7.72 ± 2 min, P < 0.01) and (1.40 0.50 vs 1.64 ± 0.48, days P = 0.09) respectively. CONCLUSION: Neither D nor S were clinically superior to the other with respect to liver and kidneys functions, but D was found to preserve better the haemodynamic parameters and enhance recovery at a lower cost.

Use of transesophageal Doppler as a sole cardiac output monitor for reperfusion hemodynamic changes during living donor liver transplantation: An observational study.

AIMS: To report the use of transesophageal Doppler (TED), a minimally invasive cardiac output (COP) monitor, before, during and after reperfusion and study its effect on anesthetic management during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). SETTING AND DESIGN: A prospective observational study. METHODS: A total of 25 consecutive recipients with a MELD score between 15 and 20 were enrolled. Data were recorded at baseline (TB); anhepatic phase (TA); and post-reperfusion - 1, 5, 10 and 30 minutes. Fluid therapy was guided by corrected flow time (FTc) of the TED. Packed red blood cells (RBCs) were only given when hematocrit was less than 25%. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and standard laboratory tests were used to guide component blood products requirements. RESULTS: Post-reperfusion, the COP, Cardiac Index (CI) and stroke volume (SV) increased significantly at all points of measurements; this was associated with a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (P ;< .05). Immediately post-reperfusion, for 5 minutes, mean arterial blood pressure (ABP) dropped significantly (P < .05), and 14 out of the 25 patients required boluses of epinephrine (10 µg) to restore the mean ABP; 3 of the 14 patients required norepinephrine infusion till the end of surgery. Central venous pressure (CVP) and urine output (UOP) at all measures were maintained adequately with FTc-guided fluid replacement. Eight out of the 25 patients required no blood transfusion, and 4 of the 8 patients required no catecholamine support. CONCLUSION: TED as a sole monitor for COP was able to present significant and reliable changes in the cardiovascular status of the recipients during reperfusion, which could help to guide fluid- and drug-supportive therapy in this population of patients. This preliminary study needs to be applied on a larger scale.

Twenty cases of adult-to-adult living-related liver transplantation: single-center experience in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The deceased donor organ shortage has forced surgeons to implement innovations, including living-related liver transplantation (LRLT). OBJECTIVE: To present the first 20 cases of adult LRLT in a single center in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: From November 2000 to May 2004, we performed 20 cases of LRLT. Eighteen donors were men and 2 were women. Their median age was 27 years. Seventeen of the recipients were men and 3 were women of median age 55 years. One patient received combined liver and kidney grafts. RESULTS: All cases had liver cirrhosis. Seven had hepatitis C; six, hepatitis B and C; three, hepatitis B; one, alcoholic cirrhosis; one, Bylar disease, one hepatic schistosomiasis, and one cryptogenic cirrhosis. Three cases had associated hepatocellular carcinomas. There was no donor mortality. In the recipients, the overall patient and graft survival was 85%. While 10 donors presented uneventful postoperative courses, 8 experienced minor complications and 2, major complications: biliary stricture and portal vein thrombosis. Recipients complications included biliary complications (35%), acute rejection (20%), hepatitis C reactivation (20%), hepatic vein stenosis (10%), hepatic artery stenosis (5%), and hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence (5%). CONCLUSIONS: LRLT has become a standard option in adults with end-stage liver failure in our center.

Circulating tetrahydrobiopterin concentrations in patients with septic shock.

Nitric oxide synthase requires tetrahydrobiopterin for its activity. In animal models of sepsis, changes in circulating tetrahydrobiopterin concentrations precede increases in nitrate. We measured plasma tetrahydrobiopterin and nitrate concentrations on three consecutive days in 10 patients with septic shock and 10 critically ill control patients. Total nitrate concentration was measured after reduction of nitrite to nitrate. Tetrahydrobiopterin concentrations were measured using HPLC. The median (range) APACHE II score was 22 (13-27) in the patients with septic shock and 25 (7-28) in the control group. The nitrate concentration was significantly higher in patients with septic shock than in controls (P = 0.01) on all days but did not change with time. Tetrahydrobiopterin concentrations were highest in the patients with septic shock on day 1 only (P = 0.037). In the seven patients with renal failure, both nitrate and tetrahydrobiopterin concentrations tended to be higher than in the 13 patients without renal failure. The nitrate concentration correlated with tetrahydrobiopterin concentration on day 1 only (P = 0.05). In patients with septic shock, both tetrahydrobiopterin and total nitrate concentrations were higher than those in critically ill controls but were increased mainly in patients with renal failure. In summary, tetrahydrobiopterin concentration increases during septic shock, in line with increases in nitrate concentration. However, as for nitrate, concentrations

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations in critically ill patients.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is involved in the processing of cytokines during sepsis. We studied 10 critically ill patients within 12 h of fulfilling the American Consensus Conference criteria for severe sepsis and compared the results with 12 critically ill non-septic control patients and eight healthy subjects. Total matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations were measured on days 1, 2 and 3. The median admission Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 19.5 (range 13-27) in the septic patients and 20.5 (range 7-28) in the non-septic patients. Four patients from each group died within 28 days. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations were elevated significantly in both groups of patients compared with healthy subjects (p = 0.0004) but there was no difference between patients with and without sepsis. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels did not change with time, and there was no difference between survivors and those who died. We conclude that matrix metalloproteinase-9 represents a non-specific marker of systemic inflammation.

Mitochondrial redox state in the critically ill.

Abnormal oxygen use and organ failure in the critically ill may result from 'poisoning' of mitochondrial function. Measurement of arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) has been proposed to reflect mitochondrial redox state and may provide a useful marker to monitor mitochondrial function in the critically ill. We measured AKBR (acetoacetate to beta-hydroxybutyrate) and plasma lactate concentrations in 20 critically ill patients, on 3 consecutive days after admission to the intensive care unit. Nine (45%) patients died (five with sepsis) within the 30-day follow-up period. AKBR increased significantly over the 3 days of the study in patients who died (P = 0.034) and decreased in those who survived (P < 0.0001). In addition, there was a significant difference between survivors and non-survivors (P = 0.015). We conclude that serial AKBR measurement may be useful in the management of septic patients.