A retrospective case-control study of intraoperative cardiac dysfunction in elderly patients (≥60 years) undergoing live donor liver transplantation

Survival after LDLT in recipients ≥70 years old in the United States. An OPTN/UNOS liver transplant registry analysis

BACKGROUND

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the elderly population is currently not well studied. There are single-center studies indicating that patient age should not be a barrier to LDLT, with similar outcomes compared to younger recipients.

METHODS

Using UNOS/STAR data from 2010 to 2022 we retrospectively analyzed patients ≥70 years old receiving a living donor graft (LDLT ≥70y group) versus a deceased donor graft (DDLT ≥70y group). In addition, we compared recipients ≥70 years old undergoing LDLT versus patients 18-69 years old also undergoing LDLT. Donor and recipient baseline characteristics, as well as postoperative outcomes including graft and patient survival were analyzed and compared between groups.

RESULTS

Recipients in the LDLT ≥70y group showed less disease burden and spent significantly less time on the waitlist when compared to recipients in the DDLT ≥70y group (102 [49-201] days versus 170 [36-336] days) respectively; p = .004. With the exception of a longer length of stay (LOS) in the LDLT ≥70y group (p ≤ .001), postoperative outcomes were comparable with recipients in the DDLT ≥70y group, including similar graft and patient survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-years. When compared to younger recipients of a graft from a living donor, patients in the LDLT ≥70y group had similar post-transplant functional status, re-transplant rates and similar causes contributing to graft failure. However, significantly lower graft and patient survival rates were observed.

CONCLUSION

LDLT for recipients aged 70 or greater represents a faster access to transplantation in a safe and feasible manner when compared to similar- aged recipients undergoing DDLT.

Atrioventricular conduction disturbances immediately after hepatic graft reperfusion and their outcomes in patients undergoing liver transplantation

Hemodynamic perturbation during hepatic graft reperfusion in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) is challenging and is frequently accompanied by bradyarrhythmia and even asystole. However, detailed data on electrocardiographic (ECG) changes during reperfusion are almost nonexistent, although the correct diagnosis by record is important for the treatment. We aimed to identify ECG rhythm disturbances during graft reperfusion and to investigate risk factors and outcomes. Data from 1065 consecutive patients who underwent adult LT were analyzed. The incidence, type, and detailed characteristics of ECG changes immediately after graft reperfusion were assessed using an electronically archived intraoperative ECG database. We analyzed risk factors, postoperative outcomes including major cardiovascular events, 30-day and 1-year mortalities of recipients based on the occurrence of atrioventricular (AV) block, and asystole during reperfusion. The typical pattern of postreperfusion bradyarrhythmia was progressive PR interval prolongation until a Mobitz type 1 AV block occurred. The overall incidence of AV block was 5.0% (53/1065), and 30.2% of them (16/53) had initiated as AV block and then progressed into ventricular asystole. Fulminant hepatic failure was a significant predictor for occurrence of AV block (odds ratio [OR], 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 3.38-15.32; P < 0.001). Patients with AV block showed significantly higher incidence of postoperative major cardiovascular events (P < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (P = 0.002) than those without AV block, whereas the 1-year mortality was not different between the 2 groups (P = 0.10). The postreperfusion asystole was consistently preceded by a Mobitz type 1 AV block. The occurrence of AV block and asystole appears to be an important prognosticator. Therefore, maintaining an optimal range of physiological status and gradual unclamping of the vena cava to avoid sudden atrial distension are recommended in high-risk patients during reperfusion period. Liver Transplantation 22 956-967 2016 AASLD.

Is stroke volume variation a useful preload index in liver transplant recipients? A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

The right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) is a good indicator of preload in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Although dynamic indices, such as stroke volume variation (SVV), have been used as reliable indicators in predicting fluid responsiveness, the evaluation of the relationship between SVV and direct preload status is limited. We investigated the relationship between SVV and RVEDVI, and tested the cutoff value of SVV to predict RVEDVI during liver transplantation.

METHODS

A total of 150 data pairs in 30 living donor liver transplant recipients were retrospectively investigated. Hemodynamic parameters, including SVV and RVEDVI were obtained from each patient at the 5 specific time points. Linear regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The SVV significantly correlated with the RVEDVI (r = -0.616, P < 0.001). Cutoff values for the upper and lower tertiles of RVEDVI were 157 mL/m(2) and 128 mL/m(2), respectively. Tertile analysis indicated that upper tertile of RVEDVI had a significantly lower SVV than the middle tertile (median; 5% vs 8%, P < 0.05), and middle tertile of RVEDVI had a significantly lower SVV than the lower tertile (median; 8% vs 11%, P < 0.05). A 6% cutoff value of SVV estimated the upper tertile RVEDVI (>157 mL/m(2)) with the area under the curve of ROC curve of 0.832. A 9% cutoff value of SVV estimated the lower tertile RVEDVI (<128 mL/m(2)) with the area under the curve of ROC curve of 0.792.

CONCLUSION

SVV may be a valuable estimator of RVEDVI in patients undergoing liver transplantation.