Esketamine is a spin isomer of ketamine,which has the triple effect of sedation,analge-sia and amnesia,and is superior to ablative ketamine in terms of efficacy,controllability.It has been widely used in anesthesia,emergency and critical care in Europe and America,and is mostly used for sedation,analgesia and antidepressant in China.Esketamine is used in cardiac surgery to maintain stable hemodynam-ics,reduce the secretion of inflammatory factors and relieve postoperative pain.Its sympathomimetic effect allows it to be used for the induction of anesthesia in patients with hemodynamic instability and acute heart attack.This paper reviews the recent advance in the clinical value and limitations of esketamine in the perio-perative period of cardiovascular surgery and provides a reference for clinicians to use esketamine in the perioperative period of cardiovascular surgery.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of s-ketamine on perioperative myocardial injury in patients undergoing liver transplantation.Methods:This was a prospective randomized controlled study. Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅲ or Ⅳ patients, aged 18-64 yr, with New York Heart Association classⅠ-Ⅲ, undergoing elective liver transplantation with general anesthesia in our hospital from May to October 2023, were divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: s-ketamine group (group S) and control group (group C). In group S, s-ketamine was intravenously injected at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg after induction of anesthesia, followed by an infusion of 0.5 mg·kg -1·h -1 until the end of surgery. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C. Central venous blood samples were collected after induction of anesthesia (T 0), at 30 min of anhepatic phase (T 1), 30 min of neopepatic phase (T 2), abdominal closure (T 3), 24 h after operation (T 4) and 72 h after operation (T 5) for determination of the concentrations of serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and high-mobility group protein B1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The occurrence of adverse cardiac events during surgery and within 24 h after surgery, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, time of intensive care unit stay, and postoperative length of hospital stay were recorded. Results:Compared with group C, the concentrations of serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6 at T 2-5 and high-mobility group protein B1 at T 2-4 were significantly decreased, the concentrations of serum IL-10 were increased at T 2-5, the incidence of myocardial ischemia was decreased, the mechanical ventilation time was shortened ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the time of intensive care unit stay and postoperative length of hospital stay in S group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Intraoperative usage of s-ketamine can inhibit the inflammatory responses and reduce perioperative myocardial injury in the patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Objective:To explore risk factors of early acute kidney injury (AKI) after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LT) and examine the effects on the prognosis of recipients.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2019, the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 201 pediatric recipients of elective living donor LT. Post-LT AKI recipients were diagnosed and categorized according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria (2012). Based upon the presence or absence of AKI within 7 days post-LT, they were assigned into two groups of AKI (64 cases) and non-AKI (137 cases). Baseline profiles, preoperative results of major laboratory tests and operation-related parameters were compared between two groups. Univariate variables with statistical differences were included into binary Logistic regression model for multivariate analysis to identify the independent risk factors of early AKI post-LT. Prognostic data of recipients such as postoperative mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, total hospitalization stay, in-hospital mortality and 3-year postoperative mortality were compared between two groups. Survival analysis was conducted for pediatric recipients with different AKI grades.Results:The incidence of AKI within 7 days post-LT was 31.8% (64/201). Univariate analysis revealed significant inter-group differences in age, preoperative PELD score, diagnosis of biliary atresia, total bilirubin, cystatin C, operative duration and volume of blood loss ( P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.002, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001& P<0.001). Multi-factorial analysis showed that total bilirubin ( OR=1.154, 95% CI: 1.068-1.248, P<0.001), cystatin C ( OR=2.532, 95 % CI: 1. 627-3.939, P<0.001), operative duration ( OR=1.174, 95% CI : 1.064-1.295, P=0.001) and volume of blood loss ( OR=1.210, 95% CI : 1. 095-1.337, P<0.001) were independent risk factors of AKI within 7 days post-LT. As compared with non-AKI group, postoperative mechanical ventilation time and ICU stay time became markedly extended (178 vs 389 min, P<0.001 ; 2 vs 3 day, P<0.001) and mortality during hospitalization rose sharply (0.7% vs 7.8%, P=0.002) in AKI group. The survival rates of recipients during hospitalization in group non-AKI/AKI were 99.3% (136/137) and 96.8% (30/31, grade 1), 92.9 % (13/14, grade 2), 78.9% (15/19, grade 3 ). The survival rates of recipients 3 years post-LT in group non-AKI/AKI were 94.2% (129/137) and 96.8% (30/31, grade 1), 78.6% (11/14, grade 2), 73.7% (14/19, grade 3). Results of survival analysis indicated that, in group non-AKI and AKI (geade 1, 2, 3), survival rate of recipients during hospitalization and 3 years post-LT declined gradually ( χ2=21.102, P<0.001 ; χ2=13.316, P=0.004) . Conclusion:As one common complication after pediatric living donor LT, AKI adversely affects the prognosis of recipients. Elevated preoperative levels of total bilirubin and cystatin C, prolonged operative duration and greater volume of intraoperative blood loss may boost the postoperative risk of early AKI in pediatric recipients.

Objective:To explore the effect of esketamine on inflammatory cytokines and myocardial injury markers in children undergoing living-donor liver transplantation (LT).Methods:Considering the inclusion criteria, 50 children with biliary atresia were selected for living donor LT. They were equally randomized into two groups of control (C) and esketamine (E) (25 cases each). Esketamine 0.5 mg/kg was administered to group E during induction and continued at a dose of 0.5 mg·kg –1·h -1 after an induction of anesthesia. Group C provided the same dose of 0.9% sodium chloride injection during induction and then continued to pumping until the end of the procedure. Basic profiles of two groups were recorded. Hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and central venous pressure (CVP), were monitored at 5 min of anesthesia induction (T 0), 30 min of anhepatic phase (T 1), immediately after repercussion (T 2), 30 min of neohepatic phase (T 3) and end of surgery (T 4) in both groups. Central venous blood samples were collected at T 0, T 1, T 3 and T 4. Serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) ,tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. The incidence of adverse cardiac events, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay and hospitalization length were compared. Results:As compared with T 0, mean arterial pressure (MAP) at T 2 declined markedly in group E [(48.6±12.7) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs (55.6±10.7) mmHg, P<0.001] and C [(39.3±8.0) mmHg vs (53.2±9.4) mmHg, P<0.001 ] ;As compared with T 0, the TNF-α and IL-6 spiked at T 3 in group C [169.0 (207.1) ng/L vs 43.8 (26.4) ng/L, (132.63±51.75) ng/L vs (51.79±17.83) ng/L, P<0.001] and E [78.5 (138.8) ng/L vs 43.8 (26.4) ng/L, (87.44±32.17) ng/L vs (51.79±17.83) ng/L, P<0.001 ] ; In group C, the concentration of myocardial injury markers CK-MB and cTnI rose at T 3/T 4 compared with T 0[T 3 vs T 0: 5.7 (5.4) μg/L vs 4.0 (3.5) μg/L, 0.09 (0.08) μg/L vs 0.02 (0.02) μg/L; T 4 vs T 0: 5.3 (5.0) μg/L vs 4.0 (3.5) μg/L, 0.07 (0.08) μg/L vs 0.02 (0.02) μg/L, P<0.001 ]. In group E, the levels of CK-MB and cTnI were higher at T 3/T 4 than those at T 0[T 3 vs T 0: 7.0 (5.0) μg/L vs 4.6 (2.1) μg/L, 0.06 (0.09) μg/L vs 0.03 (0.04) μg/L; T 4 vs T 0: 5.4 (4.9) μg/L vs 4.6 (2.1) μg/L, 0.03 (0.06) μg/L vs 0.03 (0.04) μg/L; P<0.001]. Compared with group C, the MAP of E rose at T 1/T 2/T 3 [(58.8±10.3) mmHg vs (53.3±8.6) mmHg, P=0.048; (48.6±12.7) mmHg vs (39.3± 8.0) mmHg, P=0.003; (55.8±7.4) mmHg vs (51.5±7.3) mmHg, P=0.044]. Compared with group C, TNF-α and IL-6 decreased in E at T 3/T 4[T 3: 78.5 (138.8) ng/L vs 169.0 (207.1) ng/L, P=0.010; (87.44±32.17) ng/L vs (132.63±51.75) ng/L, P=0.017. T 4: 62.3 (118.3) ng/L vs 141.3 (129.2) ng/L, P=0.001; (74.34±26.38) ng/L vs (100.59±30.40) ng/L, P=0.002]. Compared with group C, cTnI decreased in E at T 3/T 4[0.06 (0.09) μg/L vs 0.09 (0.08) μg/L, P=0.014; 0.03 (0.06) μg/L vs 0.07 (0.08) μg/L, P=0.003]. Compared with group C, the mechanical ventilation time in group E decreased [195 (120) min vs 315 (239) min, P<0.001]. Compared with group C, the incidence of severe hypotension [16%(4/25) vs 48% (12/25), P=0.015 ], bradycardia [12% (3/25) vs 36 % (9/25), P=0.047 ], myocardial ischemia [4 % (1 /25) vs 24 % (6/25), P=0.042 ] and premature ventricular contractions [0 vs 4 %(1/25), P=0.312 ] decreased in group E. Conclusion:Intraoperative dosing of esketamine may suppress inflammatory reactions and alleviate perioperative myocardial injury in children undergoing living-donor LT.

Objective:To identify the risk factors for acute lung injury (ALI) after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and evaluate the predictive value.Methods:The pediatric patients (all diagnosed with congenital biliary atresia) who underwent parental liver transplantation in our center from January to December 2021 were selected. Perioperative data were obtained through the electronic medical record system, and the pediatric patients were divided into non-ALI group and ALI group according to whether ALI occurred or not at 1 week after surgery. The factors of which P values were less than 0.05 between groups would enter the multivariate logistic regression analysis to stratify the risk factors for ALI after pediatric LDLT, and the value of the risk factors in predicting intraoperative ALI was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results:A total of 140 pediatric patients were enrolled in the analysis, and the incidence of ALI was 30.7%. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative pediatric end-stage liver disease score, preoperative serum NT-pro-BNP concentrations, intraoperative volume of fluid transfused, and duration of postreperfusion syndrome were independent risk factors for ALI after LDLT in pediatric patients ( P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the preoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-pro-BNP) concentration in predicting postoperative ALI was 0.737 ( P<0.001), with a cutoff value of 222.1 ng/L, sensitivity of 0.628, and specificity of 0.732. Conclusions:Preoperative pediatric end-stage liver disease score, serum NT-pro-BNP concentrations, intraoperative volume of fluid transfused, and duration of postreperfusion syndrome are independent risk factors for ALI after LDLT in pediatric patients; preoperative serum NT-pro-BNP concentrations can effectively predict the development of ALI after pediatric LDLT surgery.

Objective:To compare the myocardial protection in pediatric patients undergoing living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) performed under propofol- versus desflurane-based anesthesia. Methods:Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅲ or Ⅳ pediatric patients of both sexes, aged 5-24 months, weighing 5-15 kg, scheduled for elective LDLT under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: propofol group (group P) and desflurane anesthesia group (group D). During anesthesia maintenance, propofol 5-10 mg·kg -1·min -1 was intravenously infused in group P, desflurane 0.65 MAC-1.30 MAC was inhaled in group D. At 5 min after induction of anesthesia, at 1 h of reperfusion, at the end of surgery, at 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14 days after surgery, and on the day of discharge, the concentrations of serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase isoenzyme, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the occurrence of nausea and vomiting, agitation, and shivering, postoperative tracheal extubation time, intensive care unit stay time, and postoperative length of hospital stay were recorded within 24 h after surgery. Results:Compared with group P, the concentrations of serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase isoenzyme were significantly decreased after surgery, the extubation time and intensive care unit stay time were shortened ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations, postoperative length of hospital stay and incidence of postoperative adverse effects at each time point in group D ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Desflurane has better myocardial protection than propofol in pediatric patients undergoing LDLT, which is helpful for early prognosis.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of stroke volume variation(SVV) goal-directed fluid therapy on postoperative pulmonary complications(PPCs) after pediatric living donor liver transplantation.Methods:One hundred and twenty pediatric patients undergoing pediatric living-donor liver transplantation(all diagnosed with congenital biliary atresia) were divided into 2 groups( n=60 each) using the random number table method: control group and SVV group. Intraoperative fluid management was guided by central venous pressure and mean arterial pressure in control group, while by SVV combined with cardiac output in SVV group. Intraoperative circulation, fluid intake and usage of vasoactive drug were recorded. Central venous blood samples were collected to determine the concentrations of serum Clara cell 16 kDa protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha before anesthesia(T 0), at the end of anhepatic phase(T 1), at 3 h of neohepatic phase(T 2), at the end of surgery(T 3) and at 24 h after operation(T 4). Pulmonary ultrasonography was performed before surgery, at the end of surgery and at 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery. The pediatric patients were followed up for 1 week after surgery to record the PPCs, including acute lung injury, pulmonary infection, pulmonary atelectasis, pleural effusion and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Results:Compared with control group, the incidence of PPCs, acute lung injury and pulmonary infection was significantly decreased, the pulmonary ultrasound score was decreased at the end of surgery and at 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery, the usage of intraoperative dobutamine was increased, the duration of postreperfusion syndrome was shortened, the fluid intake and epinephrine usage were reduced, and the serum Clara cell 16 kDa protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 concentrations were decreased at T 1-T 4 in SVV group( P<0.05). Conclusions:SVV goal-directed fluid management can reduce the development of PPCs in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

The review summarizes the risk factors, diagnostic criteria and perioperative control strategies of acute kidney injury in pediatric liver transplantation, aiming to provide rationales for proper managements.

Objective:To evaluate the value of preoperative serum miRNA-146a-5p expression in predicting postoperative delirium (POD) in the pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation.Methods:Eighty pediatric patients with congenital biliary atresia, aged 5-12 months, with body mass index of 4-10 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ, undergoing elective living donor liver transplantation in our hospital, were selected. Venous blood samples were collected at 1 day before surgery, and serum miRNA-146a-5p expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The children′s cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Modified Montreal Cognitive Assessment at 1 day before operation and at 1, 3 and 7 days after operation. The pediatric patients were divided into POD group and non-POD group according to whether POD occurred within 7 days after surgery. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between serum miRNA-146a-5p expression and POD, Pearson′s correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between miRNA-146a-5p and POD, and the receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the accuracy of serum miRNA-146a-5p concentrations in predicting the occurrence of POD.Results:There were 30 cases in POD group and 50 cases in non-POD group, and the incidence of POD was 38%. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that down-regulated serum miR-146a-5p expression was an independent risk factor for POD in pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation ( P<0.05). The incidence of POD was negatively correlated with serum miRNA-146a-5p expression ( r=-0.658, P<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of serum miRNA-146a-5p expression in predicting POD was 0.870 in pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation, with a sensitivity of 0.825 and a specificity of 0.875. Conclusions:Preoperative serum miRNA-146a-5p expression has a certain predictive value for POD in the pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of patent foramen ovale (PFO) on the perioperative complications and survival rate in pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation.Methods:The medical records from pediatric patients of either sex with biliary atresia, aged<18 yr, who underwent living donor liver transplantation from January 2020 to January 2022, were retrospectively collected. The pediatric patients were divided into PFO group and non-PFO group according to the results of echocardiography before operation. The postreperfusion syndrome, acute lung injury, acute kidney injury, postoperative delirium and 1-year survival rate were recorded.Results:There was no significant difference in the incidence of postreperfusion syndrome, acute lung injury, acute kidney injury, postoperative delirium and one-year survival rate between PFO group and non-PFO group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:PFO has no obvious effect on the incidece of intraoperative and early postoperative complications and 1-year survival rate in pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation.