The Effect of Surgical Technique and Portal Hypertension on Operative Blood Loss in Recipients Receiving Liver Transplantation

Lars Cornelis Pietersen1*, Elise Sarton2, Carla van Rijswijk3, Maarten Tushuizen ME4, Hein Putter5, Hwai-Ding Lam1, Andrzej Baranski1, Ian Alwayn1, Andries Erik Braat1 and Bart van Hoek4

1Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
2Department of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
3Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
4Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
5Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands

^*Correspondance to: Lars C Pietersen 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.3325

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis can cause Portal Hypertension (PH) by increased intrahepatic vascular resistance. Recipients with PH have an increased perioperative bleeding risk in orthotopic Liver Transplantation (LT). Temporary Portocaval Shunts (TPCS) and initial Arterial Reperfusion (IAR) have been introduced as techniques to reduce perioperative blood loss in LT. However, the beneficial effect of both techniques is still controversial and little is known about the use of both techniques in recipients with versus without PH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a TPCS and IAR in LT on peroperative blood loss in patients with PH (PH group) and without PH (no-PH group). Methods: Peroperative transfusion requirement of packed Red Blood Cells (RBC) was used as a surrogate marker for peroperative blood loss. Between January 2005 and May 2017 all orthotopic, first LTs (n=214) performed in a single center were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Multivariate analysis in the no-PH group showed that using a TPCS significantly decreased peroperative blood loss (p=0.01). Instead, in the PH group, using IAR significantly decreased peroperative blood loss (p<0.001). Conclusion: Using IAR in LT significantly decreases peroperative blood loss in recipients with PH, whereas in recipients without PH a TPCS leads to significantly less peroperative blood loss. Therefore, the use of these techniques, potentially both or depending on presence of PH could be considered in patients receiving LT.

Keywords

Reperfusion; Portosystemic shunt; Liver transplantation; Surgical blood loss; Portal hypertension

Cite the article

Pietersen LC, Sarton E, van Rijswijk C, Maarten Tushuizen ME, Putter H, Lam H-D, et al. The Effect of Surgical Technique and Portal Hypertension on Operative Blood Loss in Recipients Receiving Liver Transplantation. Clin Surg. 2021; 6: 3325..