Severe, but not mild or moderate, intraoperative hyperglycemia is independently associated with postoperative SSI and should be avoided during LT surgery.

Recent changes in organ allocation based on the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) prioritize the most ill patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. While patients undergoing liver transplantation in the MELD era are more acutely ill, the impact of the policy changes on perioperative management has not been completely assessed. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 124 primary adult liver transplant patients. Patients were divided into low (Յ30) and high MELD (Ͼ30) score groups. Preoperative characteristics and intraoperative management were compared between the 2 groups. Patients with high MELD scores had lower baseline hematocrit and fibrinogen levels and were more likely to require ventilatory and vasopressor support before transplantation. Intraoperative transfusion requirements and use of vasopressors were also significantly increased in patients with high MELD scores compared to patients with low MELD scores. In conclusion, these data suggest that pretransplant MELD scores provide important information for perioperative management of patients undergoing liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 12: 614-620, 2006.

Even though numerous cases of massive thromboemboli have been reported in the literature, intracardiac thromboemboli (ICTs) incidentally found during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) have not been examined. In this study, we retrospectively examined the incidence, risk factors, and management of incidental ICTs during OLT. After institutional review board approval, adult patients who underwent OLT between January 2004 and December 2008 at our center were reviewed. ICTs were identified and confirmed by the examination of OLT datasheets, anesthesia records, and recorded transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) clips. The clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of the patients with ICTs were reviewed. Risk factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. During the study period, 426 of the 936 adult OLT patients (45.5%) underwent intraoperative TEE monitoring. Incidental ICTs were identified in 8 of these 426 patients (1.9%). Two ICTs occurred before reperfusion, and 6 ICTs occurred after reperfusion. The treatment was at the discretion of the treating physicians; however, none of the patients received an anticoagulant or thrombolytics. Multivariate analysis identified 2 independent risk factors for intraoperative incidental ICTs: the presence of symptomatic or surgically treated portal hypertension (a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedure, or portocaval shunt surgery) before OLT and intraoperative hemodialysis (odds ratios of 4.05 and 7.29, respectively; P < 0.05 for both). In conclusion, incidental ICTs during OLT occurred at a rate of 1.9% and were associated with several preoperative and intraoperative risk factors. The use of TEE allows early identification, which may be important. Our management for incidental ICTs is described; however, no conclusions can be made about the optimal therapy.

The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), consisting of elevated alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities in the presence of advanced liver disease, is associated with high mortality. Liver transplantation (LT) has been used for the treatment of HPS; however, the success of LT for the treatment of HPS is not uniformly documented. We reviewed our experience over a 5-year period and identified eight adult patients with incapacitating respiratory symptoms compatible with HPS. Inclusion criteria included hypoxemia, normal lung volumes, reduced oxygen diffusing capacity (D L CO), and the presence of intrapulmonary shunting. Underlying liver disease was caused by hepatitis C (2 patients), primary biliary cirrhosis (1 patient), cryptogenic cirrhosis (1 patient), alcohol (2 patients), and hepatitis C with alcohol P atients with chronic advanced liver disease frequently show abnormalities in numerous organs. For example, renal insufficiency (hepatorenal syndrome) and peripheral arteriovenous shunting are widely recognized sequelae of cirrhosis. Less often recognized are the defects in pulmonary gas exchange observed with liver disease. A hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been described and encompasses a specific group of patients with severe liver disease and without cardiorespiratory disease who develop impaired gas exchange because of intrapulmonary vasodilatation (IPVD).In the past, hypoxemia was considered an absolute contraindication to liver transplantation (LT) 1 because of the operative and perioperative complications that arise in patients with gas exchange abnormalities. As the recognition of and experience with HPS has increased, concepts regarding indications LT for transplantation have come full circle, and it has been suggested that, in the face of otherwise stable liver disease, symptomatic HPS in and of itself may constitute an indication for LT. The role for transplantation in HPS is supported by the observation that the metabolic defects responsible for the pulmonary manifestations of HPS clearly are hepatic in origin, progressive, and, at present, refractory to medical management. However, the success of LT for the treatment of HPS is not uniformly documented.In the current study, we reviewed our single-center experience of eight patients with diagnosed HPS evaluated for LT, and report their long-term outcome and complications. Experimental Procedures Preoperative EvaluationAll patients were referred to UCLA for liver transplantation (LT) routinely undergo pulmonary function

Whole blood, when compared with component therapy, is associated with fewer donor exposures yet provided equally effective replacement therapy for blood loss in liver transplantation patients.