ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of ulinastatin on perioperative renal function in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.MethodsSixty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients of both sexes aged 35-64 yr weighing 50-75 kg with normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) before operation undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n ＝ 30 each):control group (group C) and ulinastatin group ( group U).Anesthesia was induced with midazolam,fentanyl,etomidate and vecuronium and maintained with isoflurane inhalation,propofol TCI,continuous remifentanil infusion and intermittent iv boluses of fentanyl and vecuronium.The patients were tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated.PET CO2 was maintained at 30-35 mm Hg.Ulinastatin 400 000 IU in normal saline 20 ml was infused iv after induction of anesthesia.Ulinastatin 200 000 IU was then infused every 4 h until 48 h after operation.Urine volume and the amount of furosemide administered were recorded before anhepatic phase,and during anhepatic and neohepatic phase.Venous blood samples and urine were collected before induction of anesthesia (T1),at 15 min of anhepatic phase ( T2 ),at 15min of neohepatic phase (T3),at the end of operation (T4) and 48 h after operation (T5) for determination of serum concentrations of BUN,Cr and creatinine clearance rate and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)activity and microalbumin concentration.ResultsCompared with group C,ulinastatin significantly decreased the amount of furosemide administered and increased urine volume during anhepatic and neohepatic phase,decreased serum Cr concentration,increased creatinine clearance rate at T2.5,decreased urinary NAG activity and microalbumin concentration at T4.5 and serum BUN concentration at T3-s.ConclusionUlinastatin has protective effect on rehal function during perioperative period in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.