Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-Letters: Submit a response to the article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (11)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Walsh, T. S.
Right arrow Articles by Lee, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Walsh, T. S.
Right arrow Articles by Lee, A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol 81, Issue 3 311-316, Copyright © 1998 by The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS

Effect of graft reperfusion on haemodynamics and gas exchange during liver transplantation

T. S. Walsh, P. Hopton, O. J. Garden and A. Lee
Departments of Anaesthetics and Surgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9YW; Scottish Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9YW

We have documented the changes in gas exchange, haemodynamic state and associated physiological variables which occurred after graft reperfusion in 20 patients undergoing uncomplicated orthotopic liver transplantation. Gas exchange was measured during constant ventilation using a metabolic monitor. After reperfusion, there were increases in VO2 (mean increase 57 (SD 25) ml min-1) (P < 0.001), VCO2 (mean increase 38 (17) ml min-1) (P < 0.001) and PaCO2 (mean increase 0.88 (0.56) kPa) (P < 0.001). These were associated with increases in cardiac output (1.2 (1.0) litre min-1 m-2) (P < 0.001) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (9 (6) mm Hg) (P < 0.001). There was a decrease in standard bicarbonate concentration (0.96 (1.6) mmol litre- 1) (P < 0.02) and increase in hydrogen ion concentration (8.15 (5.9) mmol litre-1) (P < 0.001) consistent with the release of an acid load from the graft and previously ischaemic tissues. The increases in PaCO2 and hydrogen ion concentration were significantly larger in patients in whom venovenous bypass was used during the anhepatic period compared with the "piggyback" surgical technique. We found correlations between the changes in PaCO2 and VCO2 (r2 = 0.25, P < 0.02), cardiac output and VCO2 (r2 = 0.34, P < 0.01), and cardiac output and VO2 (r2 = 0.34, P < 0.01). We conclude that major alterations in gas exchange occur after reperfusion which result from alterations in metabolic rate and haemodynamic changes. These may be clinically relevant, particularly in patients at risk of cerebral oedema.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br J AnaesthHome page
T. S. Walsh
Recent advances in gas exchange measurement in intensive care patients
Br. J. Anaesth., July 1, 2003; 91(1): 120 - 131.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.