Liver transplant with controlled donors after circulatory death with normothermic regional perfusion and brain dead donors: A multicenter cohort study of transfusion, one-year graft survival and mortality

BACKGROUND

Controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) has expanded the donor pool for liver transplantation (LT). However, transfusion requirements and perioperative outcomes should be elucidated. The aim of this multicenter study was to assess red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, one-year graft and patient survival after LT after cDCD with normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) compared with donors after brain death (DBD).

METHODS

591 LT carried out in ten centers during 2019 were reviewed. Thromboelastometry was used to manage coagulation and blood product transfusion in all centers. Normothermic regional perfusion was the standard technique for organ recovery.

RESULTS

447 patients received DBD and 144 cDCD with NRP. Baseline MCF Extem was lower in the cDCD group There were no differences in the percentage of patients (63% vs. 61% p = 0.69), nor in the number of RBC units transfused (4.7 (0.2) vs 5.5 (0.4) in DBD vs cDCD, p = 0.11. Twenty-six patients (6%) died during admission for LT in the DBD group compared with 3 patients (2%) in the cDCD group (p = 0.15). To overcome the bias due to a worse coagulation profile in cDCD recipients, matched samples were compared. No differences in baseline laboratory data, or in intraoperative use of RBC or one-year outcome data were observed between DBD and cDCD recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

cDCD with NRP is not associated with increased RBC transfusion. No differences in graft and patient survival between cDCD and DBD were found. Donors after controlled circulatory death with NRP can increasingly be utilized with safety, improving the imbalance between organ donors and the ever-growing demand.

[Cardiovascular response to tracheal intubation in patients with intracranial tumor. Comparative study between urapidil and lidocaine]

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of urapidil and lidocaine on cardiovascular response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in patients with brain tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective, randomized double-blind study of 40 ASA II-III patients undergoing elective surgery for supratentorial tumor resection. The patients were assigned to two groups of 20 to receive an intravenous bolus of 1.5 mg/kg of lidocaine or 0.4 mg/kg urapidil before laryngoscopy and intubation. Anesthetic induction was performed with 0.03 mg/kg midazolam, 3 micrograms/kg of fentanyl, 5 mg/kg of thiopental and 0.2 mg/kg of vecuronium. Anesthesia was maintained with N2O/O2 (60%/40%) and isoflurane (0.5% expired). The following variables were recorded: mean blood pressure, heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) at baseline and 1, 2 and 3 min after induction and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 min after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.

RESULTS

The two groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, weight, height and baseline hemodynamics. No statistically significant differences in hemodynamic variables were found between the two groups. Mean blood pressure in the postintubation period stayed near baseline and heart rate increased significantly after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in both groups. SpO2 decreased 7 min after administration of urapidil and stayed lower throughout the study period and was statistically different from SpO2 in the lidocaine group. All changes described were within clinically normal ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing neurosurgery to remove a supratentorial tumor, both lidocaine and urapidil reduce the pressor response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation at the doses given in this study. However, neither was able to prevent the increase in heart rate.

Anesthesia for ruptured cerebral aneurysm surgery associated with chronic renal failure

The management of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing cerebral aneurysm surgery has been documented on only a few occasions. We report a 58-year-old man with CRF and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to aneurysm rupture. We describe the patient's perioperative anesthetic management, discussing the current methods for maintaining an appropriate cerebral perfusion pressure and for preventing rehemorrhage from the aneurysm. We suggest that heparin-aided hemodialysis be avoided in these cases.

[Intravenous anesthesia with propofol in intracranial surgery]

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the repercussions of intravenous anesthesia with propofol as the single hypnotic drug on intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and also to study the time until recovery from anesthesia and to tracheal extubation as well as intraoperative hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing surgery to remove a supratentorial brain tumor.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-three ASA I/II patients scheduled for exeresis of a supratentorial brain tumor were studied. A fiberoptic sensor placed in direct contact with the dura mater was used to measure ICP. Anesthetic induction was achieved with propofol (2 mg/kg). Propofol (12 and 9 mg/kg/h for 10 min and 6 mg/kg/h throughout the rest of the operation) was used for maintenance. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), ICP and CPP were recorded at baseline and 1, 2, 3 and 4 min after induction, during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation; 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after tracheal intubation (L + 1, L + 3, L + 5, L + 10, L + 15, L + 20), upon placement of a craniostat; upon skin incision; upon withdrawal of propofol perfusion; and during extubation. The following variables were recorded after awakening: time until eye opening after receiving a verbal command, time until extubation and time until orientation. Analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) was performed on the results.

RESULTS

MAP decreased significantly from baseline at the following times: during the post-induction period, upon placement of the craniostat, upon skin incision and when the propofol infusion was switched off. HR increased significantly during laryngoscopy and at the following moments: intubation, post intubation (L + 1, L + 3, L + 5), craniostat placement, and extubation. ICP was lower throughout the surgical period except during laryngoscopy, when this variable increased significantly. CPP decreased significantly after induction and returned to baseline after intubation. CPP was significantly higher after surgery. Recovery times after weaning from propofol infusion until eye opening in response to an order and until orientation were 13 +/- 3 and 22 +/- 4 min, respectively. The mean interval between withdrawal of propofol until extubation was 18 min.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous anesthesia with propofol in intracranial surgery (supratentorial tumors) affords hemodynamic stability and lowers ICP except during laryngoscopy. Early recovery from anesthesia allows for neurological assessment and vigilance during the immediate postoperative period.