Comparing the effect of administering gelatin-low dose albumin versus albumin on renal function in liver transplantation: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT) that is independently associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of administering gelatin-low dose albumin versus albumin on renal function and other early outcomes in LT. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 140 patients undergoing LT from brain death donors. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: albumin or modified gelatin with albumin. Blood samples were collected before (T0) and on the first (T1), second (T2), third (T3), fifth (T4), and last day of hospitalization (T5) after LT for the detection of laboratory parameters, including renal and liver function tests. RESULTS: The incidence of AKT on the basis of RIFLE criteria was 31.42% in the gelatin group (R: 59.10%, I: 36.40%, and F: 4.50%) and 25.71% in the albumin group (R: 66.70%, I: 27.80%, and F: 5.50%) (p = .845). Two patients in the gelatin and one in the albumin groups required renal replacement therapy (RRT). There was no significant difference between groups when the trends of changes in renal and liver function parameters were assessed during the study period (T0-T5). Furthermore, the incidence of complications was similar across groups. CONCLUSION: This study showed that modified gelatin could be used without inappropriate outcomes on renal function in patients with normal preoperative kidney function tests undergoing LT.

Intestinal Transplantation in a Country Without Home Parenteral Nutrition: The Largest Report from the Middle East.

BACKGROUND: Many regions of the world, especially middle- and low-income countries, lack facilities for home parenteral nutrition and thus cannot follow existing guidelines for intestinal transplantation. Herein, we report our experiences with treatment protocols, intraoperative management, and early postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing either isolated intestinal transplantation or multivisceral transplantation in our center. METHODS: During a 1-year period from March 2019 to March 2020, a total of 9 intestinal transplantations including 6 isolated intestinal transplantations and 3 multivisceral transplantations were performed in our center. We reported on donor selection strategies, surgical treatment, anesthesiology care and protocols for total parenteral nutrition, immunosuppression regimen, and pathology evaluation. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) age of patients was 37.5 ± 12.5 years. The majority of patients were females (7/9). The median (interquartile range) waiting time for patients from diagnosis to transplantation was 79 (34, 164) days. Our 7-day survey of the amount of fluid therapy after transplantation revealed that the greatest need for fluid therapy was seen on the second postoperative day. After transplantation, 2 patients showed a total of 3 episodes of severe rejection, 1 of which was antibody-mediated. The 1-year survival was 66.6% and the 2-year survival was 44.5% in our study population. The median (interquartile range) time to death was 157 (26.5, 382) days. The most common cause of death was sepsis in our series (3/5). CONCLUSION: Acceptable outcomes can be obtained with intestinal transplantation in countries without home parenteral nutrition by application of specific treatment protocols.

Risk factors of the post-reperfusion syndrome during orthotopic liver transplantation: a clinical observational study.

BACKGROUND: Post reperfusion syndrome (PRS) is a relatively common and life-threatening complication during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). It is associated with poor patient and transplanted liver outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the risk factors of PRS during OLT. DESIGN: Clinical-epidemiological observational retrospective study. SETTING: We gathered the records of patients who underwent OLT in 3 years, from May 22, 2016, to May 22, 2019, in Namazi and Bu-Ali Sina organ transplantation hospitals. PATIENTS: In this study, we assessed 1182 patients who underwent OLT. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of PRS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnosing the predictors of PRS was the primary outcome of this study. RESULTS: Results showed that age > 60 years, Child-Pugh scores C, higher Model End Stage liver disease score, and preoperative sodium < 130 mmol/l (parameters of the liver recipient), increase in cold ischemic time (the donors' parameters), and the classical technique (the surgical parameters) were the strong predictors of PRS. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that underlying liver disease was not the predictor of PRS in the presence of other risk factors; therefore, clinicians have to consider these risk factors in patients undergoing OLT.

A Comparison between Single and Double Tourniquet Technique in Distal Upper Limb Orthopedic Surgeries with Intravenous Regional Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have put an effort to minimize the tourniquet pain and complications after conventional double tourniquet intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA). We expressed in our hypothesis that an upper arm single wide tourniquet (ST) may serve a better clinical efficacy rather than the conventional upper arm double tourniquet (DT) in distal upper extremity surgeries. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 patients undergoing upper limb orthopedic surgeries were randomized into two groups. IVRA was administered using lidocaine in both groups. Tourniquet pain was recorded based on visual analogue scale (VAS). In case of pain (VAS>3) in the DT group, the proximal tourniquet was replaced with a distal tourniquet while fentanyl 50µg was injected in the ST group. The onset time of tourniquet pain, time to reach to maximum tourniquet pain and the amount of fentanyl consumption were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was seen in demographic characteristics. The onset time of tourniquet pain (VAS=1) in the ST group (26.9±13.2 min) was longer than that of the DT group (13.8±4.8 min) (P<0.0001). The median of time to reach to maximum tourniquet pain (VAS>3) in DT and ST groups were 25 and 40 minutes, respectively; indicating that the patients in ST group reached to pain level at a significantly later time (P<0.0001). The total opioid consumption in the DT group (61 µg) was significantly lower than the ST group (102 µg) (P<0.0001); however, both groups were similar regarding fentanyl consumption before 40 minutes of surgeries. CONCLUSION: It seems that in upper limb orthopedic surgeries with less than 40-minute duration, a single tourniquet may serve as a proper alternative opposed to the conventional double tourniquet technique.Level of evidence: II.

Is Spinal Anesthesia with Low Dose Lidocaine Better than Sevoflorane Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Hip Fracture Surgery.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate general anesthesia with sevoflurane vs spinal anesthesia with low dose lidocaine 5% on hemodynamics changes in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. METHODS: In this randomized double blind trial 100 patients (50 patients in each group) older than 60 years under hip surgery were randomized in general anesthesia with sevoflurane and spinal anesthesia with lidocaine 5%. Hemodynamic changes including mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate, blood loss, pain severity, nausea and vomiting and opioids consumption were compared in two groups. RESULTS: During surgery, difference between two groups regarding changes in mean arterial pressure was not significant, but the changes in heart rate were significantly different. Mean arterial pressure changes during recovery between two groups were significantly different. But there was no significant difference in heart rate changes. Bleeding in the sevoflurane group was significantly more than spinal group (513.ml vs. 365 ml). Moreover, AS Score, opioid consumption, and the nausea and vomiting in spinal anesthesia group was significantly lower than the sevoflurane group. CONCLUSION: We showed that general anesthesia with sevoflurane and spinal anesthesia with low dose lidocaine 5% have comparable effects on hemodynamics changes in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. However postoperative pain score, vomiting and morphine consumption in patients with spinal anesthesia were lower than general anesthesia.