Plasma levels of tumor necrotic factor-alpha and interleukin-6, -8 during orthotopic liver transplantation and their relations to postoperative pulmonary complications

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications after orthoto- pic liver transplantation (OLT) include high morbidity and mortality. Experimental data have suggested hepatic ische- mia and reperfusion are induced by pro-inflammatory cyto- kines. The high level of inflammatory cytokines might ad- ditionally influence pulmonary cappillary fluid filtration. The objectives of this study were to measure the concentra- tions of tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin- 6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) during OLT and to in- vestigate the relationship between these cytokines and post- operative pulmonary complications. METHODS: Twenty-two patients undergoing OLT were divided into two groups according to whether they had postoperative pulmonary complications: group A consis- ting of 8 patients with postoperative pulmonary complica- tions , and group B consisting of 14 patients without post- operative pulmonary complications. Enzyme-linked im- munoassay (ELISA) was used to determine serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of operation (T0 ), clamping and cross-clamping of the in- ferior cava and portal vein (T1, T2 ), 90 minutes and 3 hours after reperfusion (T3 , T4 ) and 24 hours after opera- tion (T5). RESULTS: The level of PaO2/FiO2 in group A was lower than that in group B ( P <0. 05 ). The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in the two groups increased rapidly at T2 , peaked at T3 , decreased rapidly after T3 until 24 hours after operation. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in group A were higher than those in group B at T2, T3, and T4(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: After un-clamping of the inferior cava and portal vein, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 increased may be related to pulmonary injury after he- patic ischemic reperfusion.

Postoperative complications in patients with portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation:Evaluation with Doppler ultrasonography

AIM： To study the postoperative complications in patients with preoperative portal vein thrombosis （PVT） undergoing liver transplantation （LT） and to evaluate the complications with Doppler ultrasonography.METHODS： Retrospective studies were performed on 284 patients undergoing LT （286 LT） with respect to pre- and postoperative clinical data and Doppler ultrasonography. According to the presence and grade of preoperative PVT, 286 LTs were divided into three groups： complete PVT （c-PVT）, partial PVT （p-PVT） and non-PVT, with 22, 30 and 234 LTs, respectively. Analyses were carried out to compare the incidence of early postoperative complications.RESULTS： PVT, inferior vena cava （IVC） thrombosis, hepatic artery thrombosis （HAT） and biliary complications were found postoperatively. All complications were detected by routine Doppler ultrasonography and diagnoses made by ultrasound were confirmed by clinical data or/and other imaging studies. Nine out of 286 LTs had postoperative PVT. The incidence of the c-Pv-r group was 22.7%, which was higher than that of the p-Pv-r group （3.3%, P 〈 0.05） and non- PVT group （1.3%, P 〈 0.005）. No difference was found between the p-PVT and non-PVT groups （P 〉 0.25）. Of the 9 cases with postoperative PVT, recanalizations were achieved in 7 cases after anticoagulation under the guidance of ultrasound, 1 case received portal vein thrombectomy and 1 case died of acute injection. Ten LTs had postoperative 1VC thrombosis. The c-PVT group had a higher incidence of IVC thrombosis than the non- PVT group （9.1% vs 2.6%, P 〈 0.05）; no significant difference was found between either the c-PV-T and p-PVT groups （9.1% vs 6.7%, P 〉 0.5） or between the p-PVT and non-PVT groups （P 〉 0.25）. Nine cases with IVC thrombosis were cured by anticoagulation under the guidance of ultrasound, and 1 case gained natural cure without any medical treatment after 2 mo. HAT was found in 2 non-PVT cases, giving a rate of 0.7% among 286 LTs. Biliary complications were seen in 12 LTs. The incidence of biliary complications in the c-PVT, p-PVT and non-PVT groups was 9.1%, 3.3% and 4.3%, respectively （P 〉 0.25 for all）, among which 2 stenosis led retransplantations and others were controlled by relative therapy.CONCLUSION： C-PVT patients tend to have a higher incidence of PVT and IVC thrombosis than non- PVT patients after LT. The incidence of postoperative complications in p-PVT patients does not differ from that of non-PVT patients, A relatively low incidence of HAT was seen in our study, Doppler ultrasonography is a convenient and efficient method for detecting posttransplant complications and plays an important role in guiding treatment.

Early respiratory complications after liver transplantation

The poor clinical conditions associated with end-stage cirrhosis,pre-existing pulmonary abnormalities,and high comorbidity rates in patients with high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores are all well-recognized factors that increase the risk of pulmonary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT)surgery.Many intraoperative and postoperative events,such as fluid overload,massive transfusion of blood products,hemodynamic instability,unexpected coagulation abnormalities,renal dysfunction,and serious adverse effects of reperfusion syndrome,are other factors that predispose an individual to postoperative respiratory disorders.Despite advances in surgical techniques and anesthesiological management,the lung may still suffer throughout the perioperative period from various types of injury and ventilatory impairment,with different clinical outcomes.Pulmonary complications after OLT can be classified as infectious or non-infectious.Pleural effusion,atelectasis,pulmonary edema,respiratory distress syndrome,and pneumonia may contribute considerably to early morbidity and mortality in liver transplant patients.It is of paramount importance to accurately identify lung disorders because infectious pulmonary complications warrant speedy and aggressive treatment to prevent diffuse lung injury and the risk of evolution into multisystem organ failure.This review discusses the most common perioperative factors that predispose an individual to postoperative pulmonary complications and these complications’early clinical manifestations after OLT and influence on patient outcome.

Perioperative thrombotic complications in liver transplantation

Although the perioperative bleeding complications and the major side effects of blood transfusion have always been the primary concern in liver transplantation(OLT),the possible cohesion of an underestimated intrinsic hypercoagulative state during and after the transplant procedure may pose a major threat to both patient and graft survival.Thromboembolism during OLT is characterized not only by a complex aetiology,but also by unpredictable onset and evolution of the disease.The initiation of a procoagulant process may be triggered by various factors,such as inflammation,venous stasis,ischemia-reperfusion injury,vascular clamping,anatomical and technical abnormalities,genetic factors,deficiency of profibrinolytic activity,and platelet activation.The involvement of the arterial system,intracardiac thrombosis,pulmonary emboli,portal vein thrombosis,and deep vein thrombosis,are among the most serious thrombotic events in the perioperative period.The rapid detection of occlusive vascular events is of paramount importance as it heavily influences the prognosis,particularly when these events occur intraoperatively or early after OLT.Regardless of the lack of studies and guidelines on anticoagulant prophylaxis in this setting,many institutions recommend such an approach especially in the subset of patients at high risk.However,the decision of when,how and in what doses to use the various chemical anticoagulants is still a difficult task,since there is no common consensus,even for highrisk cases.The risk of postoperative thromboembolism causing severe hemodynamic events,or even loss of graft function,must be weighed and compared with the risk of an important bleeding.In this article we briefly review the risk factors and the possible predictors of major thrombotic complications occurringin the perioperative period,as well as their incidence and clinical features.Moreover,the indications to pharmacological prophylaxis and the current treatment strategies are also summarized.

Doppler ultrasonography in living donor liver transplantation recipients: Intra- and post-operative vascular complications

Living-donor liver transplantation has provided a solution to the severe lack of cadaver grafts for the replacement of liver afflicted with end-stage cirrhosis, fulminant disease, or inborn errors of metabolism. Vascular complications remain the most serious complications and a common cause for graft failure after hepatic transplantation. Doppler ultrasound remains the primary radiological imaging modality for the diagnosis of such complications. This article presents a brief review of intra- and post-operative living donor liver transplantation anatomy and a synopsis of the role of ultrasonography and color Doppler in evaluating the graft vascular haemodynamics both during surgery and post-operatively in accurately defining the early vascular complications. Intra-operative ultrasonography of the liver graft provides the surgeon with useful real-time diagnostic and staging information that may result in an alteration in the planned surgical approach and corrections of surgical complications during the procedure of vascular anastomoses. The relevant intraoperative anatomy and the spectrum of normal and abnormal findings are described. Ultrasonography and color Doppler also provides the clinicians and surgeons early post-operative potential developmental complications that may occur during hospital stay. Early detection and thus early problem solving can make the difference between graft survival and failure.

Influence of donor age on liver transplantation outcomes: A multivariate analysis and comparative study

BACKGROUND The growing disparity between the rising demand for liver transplantation(LT)and the limited availability of donor organs has prompted a greater reliance on older liver grafts.Traditionally,utilizing livers from elderly donors has been associated with outcomes inferior to those achieved with grafts from younger donors.By accounting for additional risk factors,we hypothesize that the utili-zation of older liver grafts has a relatively minor impact on both patient survival and graft viability.AIM To evaluate the impact of donor age on LT outcomes using multivariate analysis and comparing young and elderly donor groups.METHODS In the period from April 2013 to December 2018,656 adult liver transplants were performed at the University Hospital Merkur.Several multivariate Cox propor-tional hazards models were developed to independently assess the significance of donor age.Donor age was treated as a continuous variable.The approach involved univariate and multivariate analysis,including variable selection and assessment of interactions and transformations.Additionally,to exemplify the similarity of using young and old donor liver grafts,the group of 87 recipients of elderly donor liver grafts(≥75 years)was compared to a group of 124 recipients of young liver grafts(≤45 years)from the dataset.Survival rates of the two groups were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test was used to test the differences between groups.RESULTS Using multivariate Cox analysis,we found no statistical significance in the role of donor age within the constructed models.Even when retained during the entire model development,the donor age's impact on survival remained insignificant and transformations and interactions yielded no substantial effects on survival.Consistent insigni-ficance and low coefficient values suggest that donor age does not impact patient survival in our dataset.Notably,there was no statistical evidence that the five developed models did not adhere to the proportional hazards assumption.When comparing donor age groups,transplantation using elderly grafts showed similar early graft function,similar graft(P=0.92),and patient survival rates(P=0.86),and no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications.CONCLUSION Our center's experience indicates that donor age does not play a significant role in patient survival,with elderly livers performing comparably to younger grafts when accounting for other risk factors.

Improving the radiological diagnosis of hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation: Current approaches and future challenges

Hepatic artery thrombosis(HAT)is a devastating vascular complication following liver transplantation,requiring prompt diagnosis and rapid revascularization treatment to prevent graft loss.At present,imaging modalities such as ultrasound,computed tomography,and magnetic resonance play crucial roles in diagnosing HAT.Although imaging techniques have improved sensitivity and specificity for HAT diagnosis,they have limitations that hinder the timely diagnosis of this complication.In this sense,the emergence of artificial intelligence(AI)presents a transformative opportunity to address these diagnostic limitations.The development of machine learning algorithms and deep neural networks has demonstrated the potential to enhance the precision diagnosis of liver transplant complications,enabling quicker and more accurate detection of HAT.This article examines the current landscape of imaging diagnostic techniques for HAT and explores the emerging role of AI in addressing future challenges in the diagnosis of HAT after liver transplant.

Biliary complications in recipients of living donor liver transplantation:A single-centre study

BACKGROUND Biliary complications(BCs)after liver transplantation(LT)remain a considerable cause of morbidity,mortality,increased cost,and graft loss.AIM To investigate the impact of BCs on chronic graft rejection,graft failure and mortality.METHODS From 2011 to 2016,215 adult recipients underwent right-lobe living-donor liver transplantation(RT-LDLT)at our centre.We excluded 46 recipients who met the exclusion criteria,and 169 recipients were included in the final analysis.Donors’and recipients’demographic data,clinical data,operative details and postoperative course information were collected.We also reviewed the management and outcomes of BCs.Recipients were followed for at least 12 mo post-LT until December 2017 or graft or patient loss.RESULTS The overall incidence rate of BCs including biliary leakage,biliary infection and biliary stricture was 57.4%.Twenty-seven(16%)patients experienced chronic graft rejection.Graft failure developed in 20(11.8%)patients.A total of 28(16.6%)deaths occurred during follow-up.BCs were a risk factor for the occurrence of chronic graft rejection and failure;however,mortality was determined by recurrent hepatitis C virus infection.CONCLUSION Biliary complications after RT-LDLT represent an independent risk factor for chronic graft rejection and graft failure;nonetheless,effective management of these complications can improve patient and graft survival.

Value of pretransplant albumin-bilirubin score in predicting outcomes after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND Due to the significant shortage of organs and the increasing number of candidates on the transplant waiting list, there is an urgent need to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from liver transplantation. The albuminbilirubin(ALBI) grading system was recently developed to identify patients at risk for adverse outcomes after hepatectomy. However, the value of the pretransplant ALBI score in predicting outcomes after liver transplantation has not been assessed.AIM To retrospectively investigate the value of the pretransplant ALBI score in predicting outcomes after liver transplantation.METHODS The clinical data of 272 consecutive adult patients who received donation after cardiac death and underwent liver transplantation at our centre from March 2012 to March 2017 were analysed in the cohort study. After the exclusion of patients who met any of the exclusion criteria, 258 patients remained. The performance of the ALBI score in predicting overall survival and postoperative complications after liver transplantation was evaluated. The optimal cut-off value of preoperative ALBI was calculated according to long-term survival status. The outcomes after liver transplantation, including postoperative complications and survival analysis, were measured.RESULTS The remaining 258 consecutive patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up time was 17.30(interquartile range: 8.90-28.98) mo. Death occurred in 35 patients during follow-up. The overall survival rate was 81.0%.The preoperative ALBI score had a significant positive correlation with the overall survival rate after liver transplantation. The calculated cut-off for ALBI scores to predict postoperative survival was-1.48. Patients with an ALBI score >-1.48 had a significantly lower survival rate than those with an ALBI score ≤-1.48(73.7% vs 87.6%, P < 0.05), and there were no statistically significant differences in survival rates between patients with a model for end stage liver disease score ≥ 10 and < 10 and different Child-Pugh grades. In terms of the specific complications,a high ALBI score was associated with an increased incidence of biliary complications, intraabdominal bleeding, septicaemia, and acute kidney injury after liver transplantation(P < 0.05 for all).CONCLUSION The ALBI score predicts overall survival and postoperative complications after liver transplantation. The ALBI grading system may be useful in risk-stratifying patients on the liver transplant waiting list.

CEUS: A new imaging approach for postoperative vascular complications after right-lobe LDLT

AIM: To investigate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for early diagnosis of postoperative vascular complications after right-lobe living donor liver transplantation (RLDLT). METHODS: The ultrasonography results of 172 patients who underwent RLDLT in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2005 to June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Among these 172 patients, 16 patients' hepatic artery flow and two patients' portal vein flow was not observed by Doppler ultrasound, and 10 patients' bridging vein flow was not shown by Doppler ultrasound and there was a regional inhomogeneous echo in the liver parenchyma upon 2D ultrasound. Thus, CEUS examination was performed in these 28 patients. RESULTS: Among the 16 patients without hepatic artery flow at Doppler ultrasound, CEUS showed nine cases of slender hepatic artery, six of hepatic arterial thrombosis that was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography and/or surgery, and one of hepatic arterial occlusion with formation of lateral branches. Among the two patients without portal vein flow at Doppler ultrasound, CEUS showed one case of hematoma compression and one of portal vein thrombosis,and both were confirmed by surgery. Among the 10 patients without bridging vein flow and with liver parenchyma inhomogeneous echo, CEUS showed regionally poor perfusion in the inhomogeneous area, two of which were confirmed by enhanced computed tomography (CT), but no more additional information about bridging vein flow was provided by enhanced CT. CONCLUSION: CEUS may be a new approach for early diagnosis of postoperative vascular complications after RLDLT, and it can be performed at the bedside.

Portal vein arterialization technique for liver transplantation patients

Liver transplantations were performed on two patients with hepatic failure caused by liver cirrhosis.Hard obsolete thrombi and portal venous sclerosis were observed in the major portal veins of both patients.The arteria colica media of one recipient and the portal vein of the donor were anastomosed end-to-end.The hepatic artery of the first donor was anastomosed end-to end with the gastroduodenal artery of the first recipient;meanwhile,the portal vein of the second donor was simultaneously anastomosed end-to-end with the common hepatic artery of the second recipient.The blood flow of the portal vein,the perfusion of the donor liver and liver function were satisfactory after surgery.Portal vein arterialization might be an effective treatment for patients whose portal vein reconstruction was difficult.

Effect of remote ischemic preconditioning among donors and recipients following pediatric liver transplantation:A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND Studies suggested that remote ischemic preconditioning(RIPC)may effectively lessen the harmful effects of ischemia reperfusion injury during organ transplantation surgery.AIM To investigate the protective effects of RIPC on living liver donors and recipients following pediatric liver transplantation.METHODS From January 2016 to January 2019 at Renji Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,208 donors were recruited and randomly assigned to four groups:S-RIPC group(no intervention;n=55),D-RIPC group(donors received RIPC;n=51),R-RIPC group(recipients received RIPC,n=51)and DR-RIPC group(both donors and recipients received RIPC;n=51).We primarily evaluated postoperative liver function among donors and recipients and incidences of early allograft dysfunction,primary nonfunction and postoperative complications among recipients.RESULTS RIPC did not significantly improve alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels among donors and recipients or decrease the incidences of early allograft dysfunction,primary nonfunction,and postoperative complications among recipients.Limited protective effects were observed,including a lower creatinine level in the D-RIPC group than in the S-RIPC group on postoperative day 0(P<0.05).However,no significant improvements were found in donors who received RIPC.Furthermore,RIPC had no effects on the overall survival of recipients.CONCLUSION The protective effects of RIPC were limited for recipients who received living liver transplantation,and no significant improvement of the prognosis was observed in recipients.

Role of interventional therapy in hepatic artery stenosis and non-anastomosis bile duct stricture after orthotopic liver transplantation

AIM： To analyze the clinical manifestations and the effectiveness of therapy in patients with orthotopic liver bansplantation （OLT）-associated hepatic artery stenosis （HAS） and non-anastomosis bile duct stricture.METHODS： Nine cases were diagnosed as HAS and non-anastomosis bile duct stricture. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty （PTA） was performed in four HAS cases, and expectant treatment in other five HAS cases, percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage, balloon dilation, stent placement were performed in all nine cases.RESULTS： Diffuse intra- and extra-bile duct stricture was observed in nine cases, which was associated with bile mud siltation and biliary infection. Obstruction of the bile duct was improved obviously or removed. Life span/ follow-up period was 13-30 mo after PTA of four HAS cases, 6-23 mo without PTA of other five cases.CONCLUSION： Progressive, non-anastomosis, and diffuse bile duct stricture are the characteristic manifestations of HAS and non-anastomosis bile duct stricture after OLT. These are often associated with bile mud siltation, biliary infection, and ultimate liver failure. Interventional therapy is significantly beneficial.

Postoperative complications after robotic resection of colorectal cancer:An analysis based on 5-year experience at a large-scale center

BACKGROUND As a common gastrointestinal malignancy,colorectal cancer(CRC)poses a serious health threat globally.Robotic surgery is one of the future trends in surgical treatment of CRC.Robotic surgery has several technical advantages over laparoscopic surgery,including 3D visualization,elimination of the fulcrum effect,and better ergonomic positioning,which together lead to better surgical outcomes and faster recovery.However,analysis of independent factors of postoperative complications after robotic surgery is still insufficient.AIM To analyze the incidence and risk factors for postoperative complications after robotic surgery in patients with CRC.METHODS In total,1040 patients who had undergone robotic surgical resection for CRC between May 2015 and May 2020 were analyzed retrospectively.Postoperative complications were categorized according to the Clavien-Dindo(C-D)classification,and possible risk factors were evaluated.RESULTS Among 1040 patients who had undergone robotic surgery for CRC,the overall,severe,local,and systemic complication rates were 12.2%,2.4%,8.8%,and 3.5%,respectively.Multivariate analysis revealed that multiple organ resection(P<0.001)and level III American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)score(P=0.006)were independent risk factors for overall complications.Multivariate analysis identified multiple organ resection(P<0.001)and comorbidities(P=0.029)as independent risk factors for severe complications(C-D grade III or higher).Regarding local complications,multiple organ resection(P=0.002)and multiple bowel resection(P=0.027)were independent risk factors.Multiple organ resection(P<0.001)and level III ASA score(P=0.007)were independent risk factors for systemic complications.Additionally,sigmoid colectomy had a lower incidence of overall complications(6.4%;P=0.006)and local complications(4.7%;P=0.028)than other types of colorectal surgery.CONCLUSION Multiple organ resection,level III ASA score,comorbidities,and multiple bowel resection were risk factors for postoperative complications,with multiple organ resection being the most likely.

Hemodynamic Changes on Color Doppler Flow Imaging and Intravenous Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Assessing Transplanted Liver and Early Diagnosis of Complications

The value of color Doppler flow imaging （CDFI） and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound （CEUS） for assessing the transplanted liver and early diagnosing complications by examining hemodynamic changes was discussed. Seventy-five patients with orthotopic liver transplantation （OLT） underwent CDFI. The following parameters were measured： peak systolic velocity （PS）, resistance index （RI） and Doppler perfusion index （DPI） of the hepatic artery （HA）, time average velocity （TAV） of portal vein （PV） and velocity of hepatic vein （HV） in different stages postoperation, And 11 patients of them received CEUS. Thirty healthy subjects were enrolled as controls, The results showed that： （1） In 23 patients without obvious complications, TAV of PV within 15 days post-operation was significantly higher than in controls （P〈0.05）, PS and DPI of HA within 7 days postoperation were lower, but RI was higher than in controls （P〈0.05）; （2） When the hepatic artery thrombosis （HAT） occurred, PS and DPI of HA were obviously decreased, but TAV of PV significantly increased like a high saw-tooth wave; （3） While rejection occurred, both TAV of PV and PS of HA were decreased with the increase in RI of HA, and the triphasic wave of HV disappeared and displayed as saw-tooth wave; （4） The incidence of biliary complications in liver transplantation was increased when DPI was reduced; （5） Seven cases of hepatic carcinoma relapse after OLT demonstrated hyperecho in the arterial phase and hypoecho in the portal and later phase on CEUS; （6） In 2 cases of HA thrombus, there was no visualized enhancement in arterial phase of CEUS, but enhancement during the portal vein and parenchymal phase. It was concluded that the hemodynamic changes of PV, HA and HV in the transplanted liver are valuable for assessing the transplanted liver and early diagnosing complications on CDFI and CEUS.

Diagnosis and treatment of biliary sludge,cast and stone following liver transplantation

Objective： To investigate etiological facts and treatment of biliary sludge, cast and stone following orthotopic liver transplantation（OLT）. Methods： A review was made using data collected from 81 cases with OLTs performed in our center from February 2003 to January 2004, and confirmed by retrospective study. Etiological factors of biliary sludge, cast and stone following OLT were analyzed, and treatment of biliary sludge, cast and stone following OLT were discussed. Result： Nine cases of biliary sludge, cast and stone were diagnosed and the incidence rate was 11.1%. Of these, five were biliary sludge and cast, 2 were bile stone and 2 were necrotic debris. Two cases with hepatic artery embolism received retransplantation and survived. The other one with hepatic artery embolism was ameliorated with nasobiliary drainage by ERCP. Two cases with biliary sludge and cast were resolved by non-operative treatment. Four cases were reoperated, 2 resolved and 2 cases died. Conclusion： Biliary injury and ischemia reperfusion injury, reject reaction, infection and changes of bile kinetics are the important factors causing biliary sludge, cast and stone following OLT. Shortening the time of cold and heat ischemia reperfusion injury of liver, reducing the injury of the blood supply of donor bile duct, actively preventing and early treating of infection and rejection reaction might reduce the incidence rate of biliary sludge, cast and stone following OLT.

Isolated bilateral Tapia's syndrome after liver transplantation: A case report and review of the literature

AIM To describe one case of bilateral Tapia's syndrome in a liver transplanted patient and to review the literature.METHODS We report a case of bilateral Tapia's syndrome in a 50-year-old man with a history of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus child. A liver cirrhosis and a bi-nodular hepatocellular carcinoma, who underwent liver transplantation after general anesthesia under orotracheal intubation. Uneventful extubation was performed in the intensive care unit during the following hours. On postoperative day(POD) 3, he required urgent re-laparotomy due to perihepatic hematoma complicated with respiratory gram negative bacilli infection. On POD 13, patient was extubated, but required immediate re-intubation due to severe respiratory failure. At the following day a third weaning failure occurred, requiring the performance of a percutaneous tracheostomy. Five days later, the patient was taken off mechanical ventilation and severe dysphagia, sialorrea and aphonia revealed. A computerized tomography and a magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck excluded central nervous injury. A stroboscopy showed bilateral paralysis of vocal cords and tongue and a diagnosis of bilateral Tapia's syndrome was performed. With conservative management, including a prompt establishment of a speech and swallowing rehabilitation program, the patient achieved full recovery within four months after liver transplantation. We carried out MEDLINE search for the term Tapia's syndrome. The inclusion criteria had no restriction by language or year but must provide sufficientavailable data to exclude duplicity. We described the clinical evolution of the patients, focusing on author, year of publication, age, sex, preceding problem, history of endotracheal intubation, unilateral or bilateral presentation, diagnostic procedures, type of treatment, follow-up, and outcome.RESULTS Several authors mentioned the existence of around 70 cases, however only 54 fulfilled our inclusion criteria. We found only five published studies of bilateral Tapia's syndrome. However this is the first case reported in the literature in a liver transplanted patient. Most patients were male and young and the majority of cases appeared as a complication of airway manipulation after any type of surgery, closely related to the positioning of the head during the procedure. The diagnosis was founded on a rapid suspicion, a complete head and neck neurological examination and a computed tomography and or a magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and neck to establish the origin of central or peripheral type of Tapia's syndrome and also the nature of the lesion, ischemia, abscess formation, tumor or hemorrhage. Apart from corticosteroids and anti- inflammatory therapy, the key of the treatment was an intensive and multidisciplinary speech and swallowing rehabilitation. Most studies have emphasized that the recovery is usually completed within four to six months. CONCLUSION Tapia's syndrome is almost always a transient complication after airway manipulation. Although bilateral Tapia's syndrome after general anesthesia is exceptionally rare, this complication should be recognized in patients reporting respiratory obstruction with complete dysphagia and dysarthria after prolonged intubation. Both anesthesiologists and surgeons should be aware of the importance of its preventing measurements, prompt diagnosis and intensive speech and swallowing rehabilitation program.

Impact of cytomegalovirus infection on biliary disease after liver transplantation-maybe an essential factor

BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus(CMV)infection is common in liver transplant(LT)_recipients,and biliary complications occur in a large number of patients.It has been reported that CMV-DNA is more detectable in bile than in blood.AIM To investigate the effects of CMV infection on biliary complications by comparing the levels of CMV-DNA in the bile and blood of patients after LT.METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of 57 patients who underwent LT,10 of these patients had no biliary complications and 47 patients had biliary complications.We also compared the levels of CMV-DNA in patients’bile and blood,which were sampled concurrently.We used RNAscope technology to identify CMV in paraffin-embedded liver sections.RESULTS CMV-DNA was not detected in bile samples and was detected in 2 blood samples from patients without biliary complications.In the 47 patients with biliary complications,CMV-DNA was detected in 22 bile samples and 8 blood samples,both bile and blood samples were positive for CMV-DNA in 6 patients.The identification rate of CMV-DNA in blood was 17.0%,and was 46.8%in bile.Moreover,tissue samples from 4 patients with biliary complications tested positive using RNAscope technology but were negative with hematoxylin and eosin staining.During the follow-up period,graft failure occurred in 13 patients with biliary complications,8 of whom underwent retransplantation,and 3 died.CMV-DNA in bile was detected in 9 of 13 patients with graft failure.CONCLUSION In patients with biliary complications,the identification rate of CMV-DNA in bile was higher than that in blood.Blood CMV-DNA negative patients with biliary complications should still be monitored for CMV-related biliary tract diseases.Potential occult CMV infection may also be a contributing etiological factor in the development of graft failure.

Gastric Volvulus Complicates the Hepatectomy for Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Donor safety is the major concern in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), and a constant aware of postoperative morbidity should be emphasized. Between March 2002 and May 2011 we performed 435 liver transplantations at an our center, one hundred forty eight with living donors. Among them left lobectomy or left lateral resections were conducted in 68 cases. Symptoms of gastric obstruction were recognized in 3 out of 68 patients that underwent left lateral resection (4.4%). The patients were readmitted because of severe symptoms of vomiting and abdominal pain. An upper endoscopy was performed and revealed pyloroantral obstruction due to gastric volvulus (GV). Endoscopic therapy correction was successfully performed in all patients. Reviewing the literature, one article has reported GV in 13 out of 115 donors (11.3%), all patients were submitted to a left resection. The mechanisms underlying this complication, in LDLT scenario, have not been fully elucidated. Nevertheless, clinicians should be aware of this possible association, which could make the diagnosis of GV more likely if a living donor comes back with typical symptoms.

Imaging panorama in postoperative complications after liver transplantation

The liver is the second most-often transplanted solid organ after the kidney,so it is clear that liver disease is a common and serious problem around the globe.With the advancements in surgical,oncological and imaging techniques,orthotopic liver transplantation has become the first-line treatment for many patients with end-stage liver disease.Ultrasound,and Doppler are the most economical and cost-effective imaging modalities for evaluating postoperative fluid collections and vascular complications.Computed tomography(CT)is used to confirm the findings of ultrasound and look for pulmonary complications.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)is used for the diagnosis of biliary complications,bile leaks and neurological complications.This article illustrates the imaging options for diagnosing the various complications that can be encountered in the postoperative period after liver transplantation.