Comparison Between 2 Strategies of Fluid Management on Blood Loss and Transfusion Requirements During Liver Transplantation.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of low central venous pressure (LCVP) and transesophageal Doppler (TED)-guided fluid management on blood loss and blood transfusion during liver transplantation (LTx).

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Single institution, university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult recipients of LTx.

INTERVENTIONS

Two groups: control (LCVP G), n=45 with CVP maintained 40% lower than the preoperative value during the preanhepatic phase. The mean arterial pressure was kept >60 mmHg. This group was matched with the second group (TED G); n = 45, in which a TED protocol was followed maintaining the systemic vascular resistance (SVR) more than 750 dynes•s•cm. Coagulation defects were corrected following thromboelastometry.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Intraoperative blood loss, blood products, perioperative creatinine, lactate, and postoperative patients' stratification according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network classification were compared. Prior to the anhepatic phase, CVP was significantly lower in LCVP G (p < 0.001). TED G tended to have less but nonsignificant, blood loss, packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets and received significantly less colloid and higher norepinephrine. Lactate was significantly higher in LCVP G at the end of the anhepatic phase and end of surgery while urine output in the preanhepatic phase was significantly lower. Creatinine was significantly lower on postoperative days 1 and 3, and Acute Kidney Injury Network stages were better on postoperative day 1 in TED G.

CONCLUSIONS

During LTx, TED-guided fluid management, with norepinephrine used to maintain SVR, was similar to LCVP regarding blood loss and transfusion requirements and had better impacts on kidney function and lactate.