PURPOSE: Whereas continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has been utilized during liver transplantation (LT), there was a lack of evidence to support this practice. We investigated the adverse events at the perioperative periods in recipients of LT who received preoperative CRRT without intraoperative CRRT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) who received LT between December 2009 and May 2015. Perioperative data were collected from the recipients, who received preoperative CRRT until immediately before LT, because of refractory renal dysfunction. RESULTS: Of 706 recipients, 42 recipients received preoperative CRRT. The mean (standard deviation) Model for end-stage liver disease score were 49.6 (13.4). Twenty-six point two percent (26.2%) of recipients experienced the serum potassium > 4.5 mEq/L before reperfusion and treated with regular insulin. Thirty-eight point one percent (38.1%) of recipients were managed with sodium bicarbonate because of acidosis (base excess <−10 mEq/L throughout LT). All patients finished their operations without medically uncontrolled complications such as severe hyperkalemia (serum potassium > 5.5 mEq/L), refractory acidosis, or critical arrhythmias. Mortality was 19% at 30 day and 33.3% at 1 year. CONCLUSION: Although intraoperative CRRT was not used in recipients with severe preoperative renal dysfunction, LT was safely performed. Our experience raises a question about the need for intraoperative CRRT.
Acidosis ; Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Insulin ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Perioperative Period ; Potassium ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Reperfusion ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; Transplant Recipients*

The Portland intensive insulin therapy effectively controls acute hyperglycemic change after graft reperfusion during liver transplantation. However, the time-consuming sophistication acts as a barrier leading to misinterpretation and decreasing compliance to the protocol; thus, we newly introduced an application software “Insulin protocol calculator” which automatically calculates therapeutic bolus/continuous insulin doses based on the Portland protocol. Methods: Of 144 patients who underwent liver transplantation, 74 patients were treated before the introduction of “Insulin protocol calculator” by using a paper manual, and 70 patients were treated by using the application. Compliance was defined as the proportion of patients treated with exact bolus/continuous insulin dose according to the Portland protocol. Results: Compliance was significantly greater in app group than in paper group regarding bolus dose (94.5% and 86.9%, P < 0.001), continuous dose (88.9% and 77.3%, P = 0.001), and both doses (86.6% and 73.8%, P < 0.001). Blood glucose concentration was significantly lower in app group at 3 h (125 ± 17 mg/dl vs. 136 ± 19 mg/dl, P = 0.014) and 4 h (135 ± 22 mg/dl vs. 115 ± 15 mg/dl, P = 0.029) after graft reperfusion. Acute hyperglycemic change during 30 min was more prominent in app group while hyperglycemia incidence was 71.4% vs. 54.1% (P = 0.031). However, hyperglycemia risk was comparable at 2 h (31.4% vs. 31.1%, P = 0.964), and even insignificantly lower in app group at 3 h (7.1% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.184). Conclusions: Compliance to the Portland protocol was significantly improved after introducing the application software; post-reperfusion hyperglycemia was better controlled. “Insulin protocol calculator” is cost-effective and time-saving with potential clinical benefits

INTRODUCTIONThis prospective observational study compared the postoperative analgesic effectiveness of intrathecal morphine (ITM) and surgical-site infusion (SSI) of ropivacaine as adjuncts to intravenous (IV) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) (fentanyl) in living-donor kidney transplant recipients.

METHODSPatients undergoing living-donor kidney transplantation who received ITM or SSI in addition to IV PCA were included. Rescue analgesia was achieved with IV meperidine as required. The primary outcome, measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS), was pain at rest and when coughing. Patients were assessed for 48 hours after surgery.

RESULTSA total of 53 patients (32 ITM, 21 SSI) were included in the study. The ITM group showed significantly lower NRS scores, at rest and when coughing, for up to 12 and eight hours. NRS scores were comparable between the groups at other times. The ITM group had significantly less postoperative systemic opioid requirement in the first 24 hours, but there was no significant difference between the systemic opioid consumption of the groups on postoperative Day 2. In the ITM group, 3 (9.4%) patients presented with bradypnoea and 1 (3.1%) with excessive sedation in the first 12 postoperative hours. More patients in the ITM group developed pruritus requiring treatment during the first 24 hours. There were no differences between the groups in other outcomes (e.g. nausea/vomiting, change in pulmonary or kidney functions).

CONCLUSIONCompared with SSI, ITM reduced immediate postoperative pain and IV opioid consumption on postoperative Day 1 after living-donor kidney transplantation, but at the cost of increased pruritus and respiratory depression.