Transplantation proceedings
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Case Reports
Methylene blue used as a bridge to liver transplantation postoperative recovery: a case report.
Hepatopulmonary syndrome is defined as a triad of liver disease, arterial hypoxemia, and intrapulmonary vascular dilatation. The clinical hallmark of this disorder is the impairment of pulmonary gas exchange, not necessarily correlated with the severity of the underlying liver disease. ⋯ Herein we have described a case of a 15-year-old female patient who underwent OLT and was treated with methylene blue in the early postoperative period to improve hypoxemia. We suggest that the use of methylene blue after liver transplantation can decrease postoperative complications and mortality rates in these patients.
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Only about 15% of the potential candidates for lung donation are considered suitable for transplantation. A new method for ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) can be used to evaluate and recondition "marginal," nonacceptable lungs. We have herein described an initial experience with ex vivo perfusion of 8 donor lungs deemed nonacceptable. ⋯ The ex vivo evaluation model can improve oxygenation capacity of "marginal" lungs rejected for transplantation. It has great potential to increase lung donor availability and, possibly, reduce time on the waiting list.
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To examine whether the official adoption of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) as a criterion for organ allocation was effective, we studied risk factors for patient deaths and the accuracy of the MELD score to predict mortality. ⋯ Patient survival on the waiting list for liver transplantation did not change at 1 year after the introduction of the MELD.