Importance of Preventing Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia During Liver Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) leads to a series of deleterious effects that can be especially in complex procedures such as liver transplant. The implementation of a protocol is key to ensure the patient's normothermia. METHODS: A cohort of 209 patients who underwent liver transplant in a tertiary hospital in a period between January 2016 and December 2018 was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1, patients with normothermia (core body temperature ≥ 36°C) and group 2, patients with hypothermia (core body temperature < 36°C). Mortality between both groups at 1 month, 1 year, and 3 years is compared. Postoperative morbidity is also compared. RESULTS: The incidence of IPH is 21.5%. Patients with normothermia present with statistical significance: a lower mortality at 1 year; a lower need for transfusion of platelets, plasma, fibrinogen consumption, or massive polytransfusion; and lower primary graft dysfunction, graft and surgical complications, rejection, hemodynamic complications, and metabolic and surgical reintervention. No significant differences were found in mortality at 1 month or 3 years in the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation; hospital readmission; length of stay in the intensive care unit or in hospital stay; rate of red blood cell transfusion; vascular, biliary, respiratory, or digestive complications; refractory ascites; or neurologic, kidney, hematological, endocrine, thrombotic, nutritional, or infectious issues. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IPH is relatively low in our patients, based on what is described in the literature, and in most cases it is mild. There is a reduction in complications fundamentally related to the consumption of blood products and the graft.

Impact of the Acute and Chronic Liver Failure-Sequential Evaluation of Organ Failure Scoring System on the Prognosis of Liver Transplant.

BACKGROUND: The use of the Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) to predict morbidity and mortality after orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) is controversial. Acute and chronic liver failure-sequential evaluation of organ failure (CLIF-SOFA) is a new score that assess the patient's global status and that have been developed exclusively for patients with end-stage liver disease. The objective is to evaluate whether the CLIF-SOFA system predicts postoperative morbidity and mortality in the short and medium term. METHODS: A cohort of 123 patients who underwent OLT in a tertiary care hospital between January 2016 and December 2017 was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 with a CLIF-SOFA score <7 and group 2 with a score CLIF-SOFA ≥7. RESULTS: Patients with a CLIF-SOFA ≥7 present, with statistical significance, had higher mortality at 1 and 3 years; longer duration of admission to the critical care unit; longer hospital stay; need for prolonged mechanical ventilation; surgical reintervention; higher rate of transfusion of blood products; pulmonary, neurologic, hemodynamic, surgical, infectious, kidney, metabolic, thrombotic, vascular, and graft complications; and need for kidney replacement therapy. However, no statistically significant differences were found in mortality in the first month, the need for hospital readmission, retransplant, digestive, endocrine, nutritional, hematologic, or biliary complications, and the presence of ascites. CONCLUSIONS: The role of CLIF-SOFA as a prognostic factor for mortality after OLT must be taken into account. Our results should be taken with caution, and more studies are necessary.

Role of Early Extubation in Decreasing Morbidity and Mortality in Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Early extubation is a fundamental element integrated into enhanced recovery protocols in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim is to evaluate whether early extubation influences short- and medium-term postoperative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: A cohort of 209 patients who underwent OLT in a tertiary hospital in a period from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1: early extubation in the intensive care unit and group 2: delayed extubation. Mortality is compared between both groups in the first month and first and third year. Postoperative morbidity was also compared. RESULTS: Patients in group 1 (n = 165, 79.9%) presented, with statistical significance, lower mortality at 1 month, 1 year, and 3 years; shorter duration of admission to the critical care unit and of hospital stay; lower incidence of surgical reoperation and retransplant; lower rate of transfusion of blood products; fewer pulmonary, digestive, neurologic, cardiologic, hemodynamic, kidney, surgical, infectious, metabolic, thrombotic, vascular, and graft complications; less need for kidney replacement therapy; less refractory ascites; and greater infectious risk. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the need for hospital readmission; in biliary, endocrine, nutritional, hematologic, thrombotic, and hematologic complications; or in graft rejection. In group 1, 6.6% of patients required reintubation. In group 2, 97% of patients could be extubated during the first week; 7.8% required noninvasive mechanical ventilation type bilevel positive airway pressure and 8.1% high flow. Only 2.8% of patients required tracheotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The role of early extubation seems key to improve outcomes in OLT because it reduces the incidence of multiple complications and mortality, with low reintubation rates. It is a feasible and safe procedure.

Hepatic Artery Thrombosis After Orthotopic Liver Transplant: Experience in the Last 10 Years.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is the second cause of graft failure, after primary disfunction. It has a significant morbidity, with a retransplant and mortality rate in early hepatic artery thrombosis of 50%. The incidence of this event goes from 2% to 9% in the adult population. METHODS: The objective is to assess the incidence of HAT in a third-level hospital. The study design is an observational retrospective study, collecting data of the transplant recipient from 2010 to 2020. RESULTS: Incidence of HAT was 5.33% (39/732). A statistical difference was found with the blood intraoperative administration (P = .002) and with the presence of anatomic abnormalities in the hepatic artery between the HAT and the non-HAT group. We did not find any statistical difference with portal thrombosis (P = .73) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: HAT is a fatal complication after an orthotopic liver transplant, which can lead to graft loss and even recipient death. For these reasons, we should early identify risk factors associated with this event early and try to minimize them to avoid the devastating consequences.

Cross-cultural adaptation, analysis of psychometric properties and validation of the Spanish version of a perioperative satisfaction questionnaire (EVAN-G).

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is a reliable and measurable indicator of the quality provided by a healthcare service. There are several questionnaires for measuring it, but only a few have shown good psychometric properties, an outstanding one being the EVAN-G (Evaluation du Vécu de l'Anesthésie Générale) questionnaire, which measures patient satisfaction regarding perioperative care and is validated in French. The aim of this study is the validation of a Spanish version of the EVAN-G questionnaire. METHODS: A translation/back-translation of the questionnaire into Spanish was carried out and the final version obtained was administered to three hundred patients. Its psychometric properties were measured and compared with those of the original EVAN-G questionnaire to verify that they had been maintained after the previous translation process. The questionnaire's content, construct and external validity were measured. To calculate reliability, Cronbach-α coefficient and test-retest method were used. The Global Satisfaction Index was calculated and satisfaction level in our sample was analyzed. RESULTS: Content, construct and external validity were proven with similar results that in the original EVAN-G. The translated version of the questionnaire showed good reliability: Cronbach-α coefficient was 0.92 and intraclass correlation coefficient measured by test-retest method was 0.9. The acceptability was high. The average Global Satisfaction Index in our sample was 73±12. CONCLUSIONS: The translation into Spanish and cross-cultural adaptation of the EVAN-G questionnaire has proven its validity, reliability, and acceptability to measure patient satisfaction in interventions performed under general anesthesia.

Implicaciones anestésicas del Síndrome de Parry-Romberg; reporte de un caso / Anesthetic implications of Parry Romberg Syndrome: A case report

Introduction: Parry-Romberg Syndrome is a rare degenerative disease characterized by unilateral atrophy affecting the skin, connective tissue, muscle and bone. The end result is facial asymmetry associated with other skin, dental, visual, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders. Clinical findings, diagnostic evaluation and interventions: The case of a patient with Parry-Romberg Syndrome programmed for frontonasal flap remodeling is discussed. The patient's history includes trigeminal neuralgia, epilepsy, and two previous surgical interventions. Uneventful endotracheal intubation with the Glideoscope® video laryngoscope was performed, upon adequate pre-oxygenation followed by anesthetic induction. Conclusion: The phenotypical characteristics of Parry Romberg Syndrome are severe facial hemiatrophy and craniofacial anomalies that require careful preoperative evaluation and management of a potentially difficult airway. Consequently, the use of video laryngoscopes is a first-line approach. Due to the syndrome's associated disorders, it is essential to maintain hemodynamic stability and prevent any potential seizures.

Introducción: El Síndrome de Parry-Romberg es una enfermedad degenerativa poco común, caracterizada por una atrofia unilateral que afecta la piel, el tejido conjuntivo, el músculo y el hueso. El resultado final es una asimetría facial cursando con otras alteraciones cutáneas, dentales, oculares, cardiovasculares y neurológicas. Hallazgos clínicos, evaluación diagnóstica e intervenciones: Presentamos un caso de un paciente con Síndrome de Parry-Romberg programado para remodelación de colgajo frontonasal. Entre sus antecedentes destacan neuralgia del trigémino, epilepsia y dos intervenciones quirúrgicas previas. Tras una adecuada preoxigenación y posterior inducción anestésica, se realiza una intubación endotraqueal sin incidencias mediante el videolaringoscopio Glideoscope®. Conclusión: El Síndrome de Parry Romberg presenta como características fenotípicas hemiatrofia facial grave y anomalías craneofaciales, que requieren una cuidadosa evaluación preoperatoria y el manejo de una vía aérea potencialmente difícil. Es por esto que los videolaringoscopios resultan una alternativa de primera línea. Debido a sus trastornos asociados, es esencial mantener la estabilidad hemodinámica y la prevención de posibles crisis convulsivas.

Sedación para recambio valvular transcatéter de una válvula pulmonar melody®: informe de caso / Sedation for transcatheter replacement of Melody® pulmonary valve: Case report

Introduction: Valved conduits for surgically reconstructing the outflow tract of the right ventricle have improved the prognosis for certain congenital heart diseases. When they become dysfunctional, transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is safe and effective. Clinical findings, diagnostic evaluation and interventions: We report the case of a 21 years old female patient diagnosed with transposition of great vessels corrected in childhood. After several surgeries, she presents a dysfunction of the right ventricle. In response, a "Melody " pulmonary valve was implanted percutaneously under deep sedation. Conclusion: The ideal anesthetic technique for transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is controversial. There is a debate over the merits of general anesthesia and deep sedation. Each case must be decided on after a careful preoperative evaluation, considering the risk/benefit and patient cooperation. The experience at our center using deep sedation is promising, but we have an alternative plan to convert to general anesthesia if necessary.

Introducción: Los conductos valvulados para reconstruir quirúrgicamente el tracto de salida del ventrículo derecho han mejorado el pronóstico de ciertas cardiopatía congénitas. Cuando éstos se vuelven disfuncionantes, el remplazo valvular pulmonar transcatéter es eficaz y seguro. Hallazgos clínicos, evaluación diagnóstica e intervenciones: Presentamos una paciente de 21 años, diagnosticada de transposición de grandes vasos corregida en la infancia, que tras varias intervenciones quirúrgicas presenta una disfunción del conducto del ventrículo derecho, por lo que se implanta percutáneamente una válvula pulmonar "Melody" bajo sedación profunda. Conclusión: La técnica anestésica ideal para el recambio valvular transcatéter pulmonar es controvertida, discutiéndose entre la anestesia general y la sedación profunda. Cada caso debe decidirse tras una evaluación preoperatoria cuidadosa, considerando el riesgo/beneficio y la colaboración del paciente. La experiencia en nuestro centro empleando la sedación profunda es prometedora, aunque debemos contar con un plan alternativo para reconvertir a anestesia general de ser necesario.