Fluid management in living donor hepatectomy: Recent issues and perspectives

Prediction of postoperative complications after hepatectomy with dynamic monitoring of central venous oxygen saturation

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of static monitoring using central venous pressure has been reported for anesthetic management in hepatectomy. It is unclear whether intra-hepatectomy dynamic monitoring can predict the postoperative course. We aimed to investigate the association between intraoperative dynamic monitoring and post-hepatectomy complications. Furthermore, we propose a novel anesthetic management strategy to reduce postoperative complication.

METHODS

From 2018 to 2021, 93 patients underwent hepatectomy at our hospital. Fifty-three patients who underwent dynamic monitoring during hepatectomy were enrolled. Flo Trac system was used for dynamic monitoring. The baseline central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) was defined as the average ScvO2 for 30 min after anesthesia induction. ScvO2 fluctuation (ΔScvO2) was defined as the difference between the baseline and minimum ScvO2. Postoperative complications were evaluated using the comprehensive complication index (CCI).

RESULTS

Patients with ΔScvO2 ≥ 10% had significantly higher CCI scores (0 vs. 20.9: p = 0.043). In univariate analysis, patients with higher CCI scores demonstrated significantly higher preoperative C-reactive protein-to-lymphocyte ratio (7.51 vs. 24.49: p = 0.039), intraoperative bleeding (105 vs. 581 ml: p = 0.008), number of patients with major hepatectomy (4/45 vs. 3/8: p = 0.028), and number of patients with ΔScvO2 ≥ 10% (11/45 vs. 6/8; p = 0.010). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ΔScvO2 ≥ 10% (odds ratio: 9.53, p = 0.016) was the only independent predictor of elevated CCI.

CONCLUSIONS

Central venous oxygen saturation fluctuation during hepatectomy is a predictor of postoperative complications. Anesthetic management based on intraoperative dynamic monitoring and minimizing the change in ScvO2 is a potential strategy for decreasing the risk of post-hepatectomy complications.

Anesthesia in patients with chronic liver disease: An updated review

Anesthesia in chronic liver disease patients can be challenging because of the medications given or interventions performed and their effects on liver physiology. Also, the effects of liver disease on coagulation and metabolism should be considered carefully. This review focuses on anesthesia in patients with different chronic liver disease stages. A literature search was performed for Scopus and PubMed databases for articles discussing different types of anesthesia in patients with chronic liver disease, their safety, usage, and risks. The choice of anesthesia is of crucial importance. Regional anesthesia, especially neuroaxial anesthesia, may benefit some patients with liver disease, but coagulopathy should be considered. Regional anesthesia provides optimum intraoperative relaxation and analgesia that extends to the postoperative period while avoiding the side effects of intravenous anesthetics and opioids. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of anesthetic medications must guard against complications related to overdose or decreased metabolism. The choice of anesthesia in chronic liver disease patients is crucial and could be tailored according to the degree of liver compensation and the magnitude of the surgical procedure.

Delayed awakening and its associated factor following general anesthesia service, 2022: a cross-sectional study

Background

The time to emerge from anesthesia is affected by patient factors, anesthetic factors, the duration of surgery, and preoperative and intraoperative pain management.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and contributing factors of delayed awakening following general anesthesia.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2022. After getting ethical approval with the permission number S/C/R 37/01/2022, willing patients participate with written informed consent. Chart reviews in the preoperative and postoperative recovery rooms were used to collect data. Frequency and percentage with cross-tabulation were used to provide the descriptive statistics. To determine the predictive variables that were associated with the outcome variable, bivariable, and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted. The statistical significance was evaluated using P-values of 0.05 for multivariable regression.

Results

In the current study, a normal emergency occurred in 91.7% of surgical patients receiving general anesthesia, while delayed awakening, emergence with hypoactive, and emergence with delirium occurred in 2.6, 3.9, and 1.8% of cases, respectively. Patients older than 64 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.33, 95% CI: 0.83-7.191], being diploma anesthesia providers (AOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 2.05-7.15), opioids (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 2.20-5.76), surgery lasting longer than 2 h (AOR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.83-6.14), estimated blood loss of more than 1500 ml (AOR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.62-11.30), crystalloid administration of more than 3000 ml (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 2.19-7.32), intraoperative hypotension (AOR: 3.37, 95% CI: 2.93-9.41) and extreme body weight, were significantly linked to delayed awakening after general anesthesia.

Conclusion

Although delayed emergence is an uncommon condition with a number of contributing causes, it is preventable, and once it has occurred, it presents a challenge for anesthetists.

Anesthesia Management in Laparoscopic Donor Hepatectomy: The First Report from Turkey

BACKGROUND

We aimed to report a single-center experience in laparoscopic donor left-side and right-side hepatectomy cases regarding preoperative evaluation, perioperative and anesthetic management protocols, and postoperative follow-up.

METHODS

Laparoscopic donor left-side and right-side hepatectomy cases were included in the study because of their excessive transection area and bleeding potential. Medical records of living donors were reviewed in terms of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), presence of consanguinity with the recipient, perioperative and early postoperative biochemical parameters, hemodynamic changes during surgery, duration of surgery, the ratio of liver volume to total liver volume, perioperative complications, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

Eighty-one laparoscopic living-donor hepatectomy procedures were performed in our unit between 2018 and 2022. Six laparoscopic donor right-side cases and two left-side cases were retrospectively reviewed. Donors' mean age and BMI were 29.6 ± 8.6 years and 23.1 ± 4.3, respectively. The average weights of the right and left lobe liver grafts were 727 g and 279 g, respectively, constituting 65.8% and 22.7% of the total liver volume, respectively. The mean operation time was 593 ± 94 minutes, and the mean volume of blood loss was 437 ± 294 mL. A major complication, namely portal vein stenosis, developed in 1 donor (1/8), and portal vein patency was achieved postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Anesthesia management and teamwork between surgeons and anesthesiologists are the most important building blocks for donor safety, which is of the utmost priority. Effective communication and cooperation in the operating room may prevent potential donor complications and improve postoperative recovery time.

Reducing Risk for Acute Kidney Injury After Living Donor Hepatectomy by Protocolized Fluid Restriction: Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a potential complication after restricted fluid therapy for major surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of AKI for living liver donor hepatectomy in which applied intraoperative protocolized fluid restriction was used targeting a low central venous pressure (CVP) level with high pulse pressure variation (PPV) and systolic pressure variation (SPV).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Living liver donors were admitted for this retrospective observational study. Low CVP <5 mm Hg with high PPV<20% and SPV<15% were the targets of the clinical protocol to reduce intraoperative blood loss via protocolized fluid management until the end of the hepatic parenchymal division. KDIGO criteria were used for AKI definition. The SPSS version 11.5 program was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The study included 130 patients, 79 (60.8%) men and 51 (39.2%) women, with from 18 to 58 years of age. Donors underwent right and left lobe hepatectomies (116 and 14, respectively). The baseline CVP, the lowest CVP of hepatectomy, and the highest CVP measured after hepatectomy were 7.45 ± 2.41, 4.28 ± 1.12, 7.67 ± 2.09 mm Hg, respectively. Only 4 patients with right lobe hepatectomy developed AKI stage I (3.1%) in the first 24 hours. The 4 patients were recovered at 48 hours postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that a CVP target of <5 mm Hg and high PPV/SPV via a simple fluid management modality with protocolized-fluid restriction until the procurement may not cause AKI in living liver donors in a closed follow-up anesthesia approach.

Perioperative management of living donor liver transplantation: Part 2 - Donors

Living donor liver transplantation was first developed to mitigate the limited access to deceased donor organs in Asia in the 1990s. This alternative liver transplantation method has become a widely practiced and established transplantation option for adult patients suffering with end-stage liver disease, and it has successfully helped address the shortage of deceased donors. The Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia and the Korean Society of Transplantation Anesthesiologists jointly reviewed published studies on the perioperative management of adult live liver donors undergoing donor hemi-hepatectomy. The goal of the review is to offer transplant anesthesiologists and critical care physicians a comprehensive overview of the perioperative management of adult live donors. We featured the current status, donor selection process, outcomes and complications, surgical procedure, anesthetic management, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols, avoidance of blood transfusion, and considerations for emergency donation. Recent surgical advances, including laparoscopic donor hemi-hepatectomy and robotic laparoscopic donor surgery, are also addressed.

Risk factors of delayed recovery from general anesthesia in patients undergoing radical biliary surgery: What can we prevent

Delayed recovery (DR) is very commonly seen in the patients undergoing laparoscopic radical biliary surgery, we aimed to investigate the potential risk factors of DR in the patients undergoing radical biliary surgery, to provide evidences into the management of DR.Patients who underwent radical biliary surgery from January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020 were identified. The clinical characteristics and treatment details of DR and no-DR patients were compared and analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the potential influencing factors for DR in patients with laparoscopic radical biliary surgery.We included a total of 168 patients with laparoscopic radical biliary surgery, the incidence of postoperative DR was 25%. There were significant differences on the duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, and use of intraoperative combined sevoflurane inhalation (all P < .05), and there were not significant differences on American Society of Anesthesiologists, New York Heart Association, tumor-lymph node- metastasis, and estimated blood loss between DR group and control group (all P > .05). Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that age ≥70 years (odd ratio [OR] 1.454, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.146-1.904), body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 (OR 1.303, 95% CI 1.102-1.912), alcohol drinking (OR 2.041, 95% CI 1.336-3.085), smoking (OR 1.128, 95% CI 1.007-2.261), duration of surgery ≥220 minutes (OR 1.239, 95% CI 1.039-1.735), duration of anesthesia ≥230 minutes (OR 1.223, 95% CI 1.013-1.926), intraoperative combined sevoflurane inhalation (OR 1.207, 95% CI 1.008-1.764) were the independent risk factors for DR in patients with radical biliary surgery (all P < .05).It is clinically necessary to take early countermeasures against various risk factors to reduce the occurrence of DR, and to improve the prognosis of patients.

Effectiveness of central venous pressure versus stroke volume variation in guiding fluid management in renal transplantation

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of central venous pressure (CVP) versus stroke volume variation (SVV) to guide fluid management in renal transplantation.

METHODS

The clinical data of 97 patients who underwent allogeneic renal transplantation in our hospital were collected retrospectively. Based on the method of intraoperative infusion monitoring, they were divided into group A, which received guided fluid management by monitoring CVP, and group B which received guided fluid management by monitoring SVV. The changes in intraoperative hemodynamic indicators, urine volume, blood loss, and total blood transfusion volume, total fluid volume, urine output at different time points after surgery, renal function indicators, blood purification rate, length of stay, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

CVP values at T1 (5 min before surgery), T2 (external iliac vein obstruction), T3 (establishment of vessel access), and T4 (end of surgery) in group B were higher than those in group A (P<0.05). The two groups showed no significant difference in intraoperative urine volume, blood loss and length of hospital stay (P>0.05). The total fluid volume and total infusion volume at 3 days after surgery in group B were less than those in group A (P<0.05). The urine volume did not differ at time points 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h postoperatively (P>0.05). Serum creatinine levels in group B at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h postoperatively were lower than those in group A (P<0.05). After renal transplantation, the rate of blood purification was 4.08% in group B, which was lower than 25.00% in group A (P<0.05). The rate of respiratory failure in group B was 4.08%, which was not significantly different from 6.25% in group A (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared with CVP, fluid management guided by monitoring SVV during renal transplantation can reduce intraoperative fluid volume, optimize the renal perfusion, reduce postoperative blood purification, and facilitate postoperative recovery.

Randomized controlled trial of regional tissue oxygenation following goal-directed fluid therapy during laparoscopic colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND

A randomized, double-blinded controlled trial was performed to evaluate how perioperative goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) influences tissue oxygenation in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

METHODS

A total of 74 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery were treated with GDFT (G group) guided by stroke volume variation or conventional fluid therapy (C group). Forearm, crural, and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rSO₂) were simultaneously measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. Parameters of hemodynamics and rSO₂ were obtained at seven time points including before induction of anesthesia (T1), 5 min after trachea cannula (T2), 5, 60, and 120 min after pneumoperitoneum in the Trendeleburg position (T3, T4 and T5, respectively), after desufflation in the Trendeleburg position (T6), and at the end of the operation in a supine position (T7). The postoperative outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Compared to C group, intraoperatively, patients in the G group received more colloid (P<0.05). The stroke volume variation in G group at T5, T6 and T7 was significantly lower than that in C group (P<0.05). The cardiac index, forearm and crural rSO₂ in G group at T4, T5, T6 and T7 were significantly higher than those in C group (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed for the cerebral rSO₂ between the two groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative hospital stay and complications also showed no differences between these two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the implementation of GDFT cannot increase cerebral rSO₂, the forearm and crural rSO₂ are improved during the laparoscopic colorectal surgery, which is helpful to reduce the risk of regional tissue hypoxia.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in liver resection: current concepts and controversies

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) attenuates the stress response to surgery in the perioperative period and hastens recovery. Liver resection is a complex surgical procedure where the enhanced recovery program has been shown to be safe and effective in terms of postoperative outcomes. ERAS programs have been shown to be associated with lower morbidity, shortened postoperative stay, and reduced cost with no difference in mortality and readmission rates. However, there are challenges that are unique to hepatic resection such as safety after epidural catheterization and postoperative coagulopathy, intraoperative fluids and postoperative organ dysfunction, need for low central venous pressure to reduce blood loss, and non-lactate containing intravenous fluids. This narrative review briefly discusses these concerns and controversies and suggests revisiting some of the strong recommendations made by the ERAS society in light of the recent evidence.

Comparison of postoperative coagulation profiles and outcome for sugammadex versus pyridostigmine in 992 living donors after living-donor hepatectomy

Donor safety is the major concern in living donor liver transplantation, although hepatic resection may be associated with postoperative coagulopathy. Recently, the use of sugammadex has been gradually increased, but sugammadex is known to prolong prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). We compared the postoperative coagulation profiles and outcomes of sugammadex versus pyridostigmine group in donors receiving living donor hepatectomy.Consecutive donor hepatectomy performed between September 2013 and August 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. For reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade, donors received sugammadex 4 mg/kg or pyridostigmine 0.25 mg/kg. The primary end-points were laboratory findings (PT, aPTT, hemoglobin, platelet count) and clinically evaluated postoperative bleeding (relaparotomy for bleeding, cumulative volume collected in drains). Secondary outcomes were anesthesia time, postoperative hospital day.Of 992 donors, 383 treated with sugammadex and 609 treated with pyridostigmine for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade. There were no significant differences between both groups for drop in hemoglobin and platelet, prolongation in PT, aPTT, and the amount of 24-h drain volume. Bleeding events within 24 h were reported in 2 (0.3%) for pyridostigmine group and 0 (0%) for sugammadex group (P = .262). Anesthesia time was significantly longer in pyridostigmine group than that in sugammadex group (438.8 ± 71.4 vs. 421.3 ± 62.3, P < .001). Postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer in pyridostigmine group than that in sugammadex group (P = .002).Sugammadex 4 mg/kg was not associated with increased bleeding tendency, but associated with reduced anesthesia time and hospital stay. Therefore, sugammadex may be safely used and will decrease morbidity in donor undergoing living-donor hepatectomy.

Perioperative fluid management in major hepatic resection: an integrative review

BACKGROUND

Fluid intervention and vasoactive pharmacological support during hepatic resection depend on the preference of the attending clinician, institutional resources, and practice culture. Evidence-based recommendations to guide perioperative fluid management are currently limited. Therefore, we provide a contemporary clinical integrative overview of the fundamental principles underpinning fluid intervention and hemodynamic optimization for adult patients undergoing major hepatic resection.

DATA SOURCES

A literature review was performed of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials using the terms "surgery", "anesthesia", "starch", "hydroxyethyl starch derivatives", "albumin", "gelatin", "liver resection", "hepatic resection", "fluids", "fluid therapy", "crystalloid", "colloid", "saline", "plasma-Lyte", "plasmalyte", "hartmann's", "acetate", and "lactate". Search results for MEDLINE and EMBASE were additionally limited to studies on human populations that included adult age groups and publications in English.

RESULTS

A total of 113 articles were included after appropriate inclusion criteria screening. Perioperative fluid management as it relates to various anesthetic and surgical techniques is discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should have a fundamental understanding of the surgical phases of the resection, hemodynamic goals, and anesthesia challenges in attempts to individualize therapy to the patient's underlying pathophysiological condition. Therefore, an ideal approach for perioperative fluid therapy is always individualized. Planning and designing large-scale clinical trials are imperative to define the optimal type and amount of fluid for patients undergoing major hepatic resection. Further clinical trials evaluating different intraoperative goal-directed strategies are also eagerly awaited.

Risk factors for pulmonary complications after hepatic resection: role of intraoperative hemodynamic instability and hepatic ischemia

BACKGROUND

Postoperative operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after hepatic surgery are associated with increased length of hospital stays. Intraoperative blood transfusion, extensive resection and different comorbidities have been identified. Other parameters, like time of hepatic ischemia, have neither been clinically studied, though experimental studies show that hepatic ischemia can provide lung injury. The objective of this study was to determinate the risk factors of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after hepatic resection within 7 postoperative days.

METHOD

Ninety-four patients consecutively who underwent elective hepatectomy between January and December 2013. Demographic data, pathological variables, and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables had been prospectively collected in a data base. The dependant variables studied were the occurrence of PPCs, defined before analysis of the data.

RESULTS

PPCs occurred in 32 (34%) patients. A multivariate analysis allowed identifying the risk factors for PPCs. On multivariate analysis, preoperative gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) elevation OR =5,12 [1,85-15,69] p = 0,002, liver ischemia duration OR = 1,03 [1,01-1,06] p = 0,01 and the intraoperative use of vasopressor OR = 4,40 [1,58-13,36] p = 0,006 were independently associated with PPCs. For every 10 min added in ischemia duration, the OR of the risk of PPCs was estimated to be 1.37 (CI95% = [1.08-1.81], p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Three risk factors for PPCs have been identified in a population undergoing liver resection: preoperative GGT elevation, ischemia duration and the intraoperative use of vasopressor. PPCs after liver surgery could be related to lung injury induced by liver ischemia reperfusion and not solely by direct infectious process. That could explain why factors influencing directly or indirectly liver ischemia were independently associated with PPCs.

Risk factors for intraoperative massive transfusion in pediatric liver transplantation: a multivariate analysis

Background: Pediatric liver transplantation (LT) is strongly associated with increased intraoperative blood transfusion requirement and postoperative morbidity and mortality. In the present study, we aimed to assess the risk factors associated with massive transfusion in pediatric LT, and examined the effect of massive transfusion on the postoperative outcomes. Methods: We enrolled pediatric patients who underwent LT between December 1994 and June 2015. Massive transfusion was defined as the administration of red blood cells ≥100% of the total blood volume during LT. The cases of pediatric LT were assigned to the massive transfusion or no-massive transfusion (administration of red blood cells <100% of the total blood volume during LT) group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with massive transfusion in pediatric LT. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, with the log rank test, was used to compare graft and patient survival within 6 months after pediatric LT between the 2 groups. Results: The total number of LT was 112 (45.0%) and 137 (55.0%) in the no-massive transfusion and massive transfusion groups, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that high white blood cell (WBC) count, low platelet count, and cadaveric donors were significant predictive factors of massive transfusion during pediatric LT. The graft failure rate within 6 months in the massive transfusion group tended to be higher than that in the no-massive transfusion group (6.6% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.068). However, the patient mortality rate within 6 months did not differ significantly between the massive transfusion and no-massive transfusion groups (7.3% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.964). Conclusion: Massive transfusion during pediatric LT is significantly associated with a high WBC count, low platelet count, and cadaveric donor. This finding can provide a better understanding of perioperative blood transfusion management in pediatric LT recipients.

Efficacy and Safety of Stroke Volume Variation-Guided Fluid Therapy for Reducing Blood Loss and Transfusion Requirements During Radical Cystectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Radical cystectomy, which is performed to treat muscle-invasive bladder tumors, is among the most difficult urological surgical procedures and puts patients at risk of intraoperative blood loss and transfusion. Fluid management via stroke volume variation (SVV) is associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of SVV-guided fluid therapy for reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.This study included 48 patients who underwent radical cystectomy, and these patients were randomly allocated to the control group and maintained at <10% SVV (n = 24) or allocated to the trial group and maintained at 10% to 20% SVV (n = 24). The primary endpoints were comparisons of the amounts of intraoperative blood loss and transfused red blood cells (RBCs) between the control and trial groups during radical cystectomy. Intraoperative blood loss was evaluated through the estimated blood loss and estimated red cell mass loss. The secondary endpoints were comparisons of the postoperative outcomes between groups.A total of 46 patients were included in the final analysis: 23 patients in the control group and 23 patients in the trial group. The SVV values in the trial group were significantly higher than in the control group. Estimated blood loss, estimated red cell mass loss, and RBC transfusion requirements in the trial group were significantly lower than in the control group (734.3 ± 321.5 mL vs 1096.5 ± 623.9 mL, P = 0.019; 274.1 ± 207.8 mL vs 553.1 ± 298.7 mL, P <0.001; 0.5 ± 0.8 units vs 1.9 ± 2.2 units, P = 0.005). There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes between the two groups.SVV-guided fluid therapy (SVV maintained at 10%-20%) can reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing radical cystectomy without resulting in adverse outcomes. These findings provide useful information for optimal fluid management during radical cystectomy.

High Stroke Volume Variation Method by Mannitol Administration Can Decrease Blood Loss During Donor Hepatectomy

Optimal fluid management to reduce blood loss during donor hepatectomy is important for maximizing donor safety. Mannitol can induce osmotic diuresis, helping prevent increased intravascular volume status. We therefore evaluated the effect of high stroke volume variation (SVV) method by mannitol administration and fluid restriction on blood loss during donor hepatectomy.In this prospective study, 64 donors scheduled for donor right hepatectomy were included and allocated into 2 groups. In group A, the SVV value of each patient was maintained at 10% to 20% during hepatic resection with 0.5 g/kg mannitol administration and fluid restriction at a rate of 2 to 4 mL/kg/h. In group B, the SVV value was maintained at <10% by fluid administration at a rate of 6 to 10 mL/kg/h without diuretic administration during surgery. Intraoperative blood loss was estimated by the loss of red cell mass. Surgeon satisfaction scores and postoperative outcomes, including acute kidney injury, abnormal chest radiographic findings, and hospital stay duration, were also assessed.SVV during hepatectomy was significantly higher in group A than in group B (11.0 ± 1.7 vs 6.5 ± 1.1, P < 0.001). The red cell mass loss was significantly lower in group A than in group B (145.4 ± 107.6 vs 307.9 ± 110.7 mL, P < 0.001). Surgeon satisfaction scores were higher in group A than in group B (2.8 ± 0.5 vs 2.0 ± 0.6, P < 0.001). The incidence of acute kidney injury, abnormal chest radiographic findings, and duration of hospital stay did not significantly differ between the 2 groups.Maintenance of high SVV by mannitol administration is effective and safe for reducing blood loss during donor hepatectomy.

Relationship between Stroke Volume Variation and Blood Transfusion during Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative blood transfusion increases the risk for perioperative mortality and morbidity in liver transplant recipients. A high stroke volume variation (SVV) method has been proposed to reduce blood loss during living donor hepatectomy. Herein, we investigated whether maintaining high SVV could reduce the need for blood transfusion and also evaluated the effect of the high SVV method on postoperative outcomes in liver transplant recipients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 332 patients who underwent liver transplantation, divided into control (maintaining <10% of SVV during surgery) and high SVV (maintaining 10-20% of SVV during surgery) groups. We evaluated the blood transfusion requirement and hemodynamic parameters, including SVV, as well as postoperative outcomes, such as incidences of acute kidney injury, durations of postoperative intensive care unit and hospital stay, and rates of 1-year mortality.

RESULTS

Mean SVV values were 7.0% ± 1.3% in the control group (n = 288) and 11.2% ± 1.8% in the high SVV group (n = 44). The median numbers of transfused packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasmas in the high SVV group were significantly lower than those in control group (0 vs. 2 units, P = 0.003; and 0 vs. 3 units, P = 0.033, respectively). No significant between-group differences were observed for postoperative outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Maintaining high SVV can reduce the blood transfusion requirement during liver transplantation without worsening postoperative outcomes. These findings provide insights into improving perioperative management in liver transplant recipients.