Abstract
BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of retrograde reperfusion on the intraoperative internal environment and hemodynamics in classic orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). METHODS: Thirty patients were undergone classic OLT using retrograde reperfusion in our center. Blood sampling was done at different time points including: Before blood venting via the portal vein (PV), 10 mL of blood was collected from the inferior vena cava (T(0)); During retrograde reperfusion through the inferior vena cava (IVC), 10 mL of blood was collected when the volume of blood venting reached 10 mL (T(1)), 100 mL (T(2)), and 200 mL (T(3)), respectively. 5 mL of blood was analyzed using a NOVA-f-type Blood Gas Analyzer. The remaining 5 mL was measured to determine the level of IL-1β using an enzyme-linked immunosobent assay. RESULTS: All operations were completed successfully, and postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) occurred in 6 patients (20%). The most notable findings were significant changes at T(1), T(2) and T(3), including pH value, PvO(2), SvO(2), BEecf, HCO(3)(-), Lac, K(+), Ca(2+) and IL-1β, compared with T(0) (P < 0.05). Yet their levels at T(3) were not back to the level at T(0) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This retrograde perfusion could eliminate some harmful metabolites inside the donor liver in time and reduce acid-base and electrolyte disorders as well as drastic hemodynamic fluctuations after recirculation during classic OLT.