[Perioperative management in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing open heart surgery].

Perioperative management of patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing open heart surgery (3 males and 1 female, mean age 57.3 years) was evaluated. All 4 patients had NYHA class III acquired valvular heart disease accompanied by severe tricuspid regurgitation, and the operation was a redo operation in 3 of them. Preoperatively, the total serum bilirubin was 1.7 mg/dl, ICGR15 24.3 +/- 1.7%, and blood platelet count was 83,000 +/- 19,000/m3. The postoperative course was uneventful in 2 patients who maintained good cardiac function and did not require homologous blood transfusion. The other two patients who underwent a re-redo operation, sustained a large volume of hemorrhage, and required massive transfusion showed severe postoperative complications (respiratory failure in 1, multiple organ failure in 1). The stage of the disease improved to NYHA class I in all 3 patients who survived the operation. Comprehensive measures including avoidance of massive hemorrhage, preservation of the hepatic blood flow, resolution of hepatic congestion, and prevention of complications such as digestive tract bleeding, infections, and renal failure are considered to be needed for prevention of postoperative liver failure. Especially, sufficient surgical hemostasis and autologous platelet rich plasma were useful for prevention of massive hemorrhage.