In a randomized study of 132 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation, we found that tranexamic acid, but not epsilon-aminocaproic acid, reduced intraoperative total packed red blood cell transfusion.

The risk score based on seven objective and easily assessed factors can accurately predict MACCE occurrence after non-cardiac surgery in a population at intermediate-to-high surgery-specific risk.

The efficacy of tranexamic acid (TA) and aprotinin (AP) in reducing blood product requirements in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was compared in a prospective, randomized and double-blind study. One hundred and twenty seven consecutive patients undergoing OLT were enrolled; TA was administered to 64 OLT patients at a dose of 10mg /kg/h and aprotinin was administered to 63 OLT patients at a loading dose of 2x10 6 KIU followed by an infusion of 500,000 KIU/h. The portocaval shunt could not be performed in 14 OLT patients in the TA group and in 13 OLT patients in the AP group. However, all OLT patients that received either drug were included in the analysis. Perioperative management was standardized. Hemogram, coagulation tests, and blood product requirements were recorded during OLT and during the first 24 hours. No differences in diagnosis, Child score, preoperative coagulation tests, and intraoperative data were found between groups. No significant differences were observed in hemogram and intraoperative coagulation tests with the exception of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Similarly, there were no intergroup differences in transfusion requirements. Thromboembolic events, reoperations and mortality were similar in both groups. In conclusion, administration of regular doses of TA and AP during OLT did not result in large differences between the two groups. (Liver Transpl 2004; 10:279 -284.)

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We performed a prospective, randomized study of adult patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation, comparing hemodynamic and tissular oxygenation during reperfusion of the graft. In 30 patients, revascularization was started through the hepatic artery (i.e., initial arterial revascularization) and 10 minutes later the portal vein was unclamped; in 30 others, revascularization was started through the portal vein (i.e., initial portal revascularization) and 10 minutes later the hepatic artery was unclamped. The primary endpoints of the study were mean systemic arterial pressure and the gastric-end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO(2)) difference. The secondary endpoints were other hemodynamic and metabolic data. The pattern of the hemodynamic parameters and tissue oxygenation values during the dissection and anhepatic stages were similar in both groups At the first unclamping, initial portal revascularization produced higher values of mean pulmonary pressure (25 +/- 7 mm of Hg vs. 17 +/- 4 mm of Hg; P < 0.05) and wedge and central venous pressures. At the second unclamping, initial portal revascularization produced higher values of cardiac output and mean arterial pressure (87 +/- 15 mm of Hg vs. 79 +/- 15 mm of Hg; P < 0.05) and pulmonary blood pressure. Postreperfusion syndrome was present in 13 patients (42.5%) in the arterial group and in 11 patients (36%) in the portal group. During revascularization, the values of gastric and arterial pH decreased in both groups and recovered at the end of the procedure, but were more accentuated in the initial arterial revascularization group. In conclusion, we found that initial arterial revascularization of the graft increases pulmonary pressure less markedly, so it may be indicated for those patients with poor pulmonary and cardiac reserve. Nevertheless, for the remaining patients, initial portal revascularization offers more favorable hemodynamic and metabolic behavior, less inotropic drug use, and earlier normalization of lactate and pH values.