Minerva anestesiologica
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Feb 2020
ReviewUncontrolled donation after circulatory death and liver transplantation: evidence and unresolved issues.
This review aimed at summarizing the available evidence on liver transplantation from uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD) on differences in protocols, donor management, in and ex vivo perfusion techniques from center to center. Uncontrolled DCDs represent a unique, complex model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, so far not completely understood. Nevertheless, results on liver transplantation from uDCDs are promising in terms of long-term graft survival. ⋯ Values and kinetics of transaminanes during normothermic regional perfusion (nRP) should not considered absolute contraindication at least for ex vivo perfusion. Intraoperative evaluation at organ recovery remains pivotal since macroscopic alterations (i.e. hepatic rupture, an abnormal appearance of gall bladder and choledocus) still represent contraindications for organ retrieval. Concerning ex vivo perfusion, the debate is still open, since the choice of type of machine perfusion (mainly hypothermic vs. normothermic) varies from center to center, mainly relying to the single center experience (especially in controlled DCD), surgeons' believes and/or criteria translated from animal models.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Feb 2020
ReviewImmunomodulatory effects of anesthetic agents in perioperative medicine.
Anesthetics comprise a heterogeneous group of drugs with multiple functions and mechanisms of action, which are not yet fully elucidated. In the clinical setting, it is difficult to isolate the effects of anesthetic agents from those of surgical stress itself or of other individual covariates. For this reason, several methods involving human immune cells and animal models have been used to study the effects of anesthetic agents on the immune system. ⋯ The immunomodulatory consequences of general anesthesia are complex. Immunosuppression can lead to beneficial effects, reducing systemic and local inflammation, or negative effects, which result in increased risk of infection. Anesthesiologists should choose the most appropriate agents based on the immune status of each patient.