Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society
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Multiple studies have demonstrated an advantage for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients under the current liver allocation system, such that the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) recently voted in support of a proposal to delay granting Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exception points to all HCC patients for 6 months, independently of a candidate's native MELD score or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. We obtained UNOS data on adult patients who were added to the wait list between January 22, 2005 and September 30, 2009, and we explored the relationship between HCC, MELD, AFP, and other factors that contribute to not only dropout on the wait list but posttransplant survival as well. The aim was to establish an equivalent Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELDEQ ) score for HCC patients that would reduce the disparity in access to transplantation between HCC and non-HCC patients. ⋯ The posttransplant survival of all HCC risk groups is lower than that of their non-HCC counterparts, with 1-year survival of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.70-0.85) for MELDEQ scores ≥ 31. These results suggest that HCC patients with a combination of a low biochemical MELD score and a low AFP level (MELDEQ ≤ 15) would receive a marked advantage in comparison with patients with chemical MELD scores in a similar range and that a delay of 6 months for listing may be appropriate. In contrast, patients with MELDEQ scores > 15 would likely be adversely affected by a universal 6-month delay in listing.
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Severe portal hyperperfusion (PHP) after liver transplantation has been shown to cause intrahepatic arterial vasoconstriction secondary to increased adenosine washout (hepatic artery buffer response). Clinically, posttransplant PHP can cause severe cases of refractory ascites and hydrothorax. In the past, we reported our preliminary experience with the use of splenic artery embolization (SAE) as a way to reduce PHP. ⋯ Among the 54 patients undergoing SAE, there was 1 case of postsplenectomy syndrome. No abscesses, significant infections, or bleeding was noted. We thus conclude that SAE is a safe and effective technique able to improve HAF parameters in patients with elevated portal venous flow and its sequelae.
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Living donor liver resections are associated with significant postoperative pain. Epidural analgesia is the gold standard for postoperative pain management, although it is often refused or contraindicated. Surgically placed abdominal wall catheters (AWCs) are a novel pain modality that can potentially provide pain relief for those patients who are unable to receive an epidural. ⋯ The PSMs confirmed all results except for a decrease in the length of stay in comparison with PCEA. AWCs may be an alternative to epidural analgesia after living donor liver resections. Randomized trials are needed to verify the benefits of AWCs, including the safety and adverse effects.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Patients with acute liver failure listed for superurgent liver transplantation in France: reevaluation of the Clichy-Villejuif criteria.
In France, decisions regarding superurgent (SU) liver transplantation (LT) for patients with acute liver failure (ALF) are principally based on the Clichy-Villejuif (CV) criteria. The aims of the present study were to study the outcomes of patients registered for SU LT and the factors that were predictive of spontaneous improvement and to determine the usefulness of the CV criteria. All patients listed in France for SU LT between 1997 and 2010 who were 15 years old or older with ALF were included. ⋯ For ALF-related nonparacetamol hepatotoxicity, the factor that was predictive of a spontaneous recovery was a bilirubin level<200 µmol/L (OR, 10.38; 95% CI, 4.71-22.86). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the CV criteria were 75%, 56%, 50%, and 79%, respectively, for ALF due to paracetamol and 69%, 50%, 64%, and 55%, respectively, for ALF not related to paracetamol. The performance of current criteria for SU transplantation could be improved if paracetamol-induced ALF and non-paracetamol-induced ALF were split and 2 other items were included in this model: the bilirubin level and creatinine clearance.
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Observational Study
Serum sodium and survival benefit of liver transplantation.
Hyponatremia is associated with elevated wait-list mortality among end-stage liver disease candidates for liver transplantation (LT). However, the effect of low serum sodium on the survival benefit of LT has not been examined. We sought to determine whether pretransplant hyponatremia is associated with an altered LT survival benefit. ⋯ The survival benefit of LT was not affected by serum sodium for patients with MELD scores ≤ 11. In conclusion, the LT survival benefit (or lack thereof) is independent of serum sodium for patients with MELD scores ≤ 11. The increase in the survival benefit with decreasing serum sodium among patients with MELD scores > 11 is consistent with recently approved changes to the allocation system incorporating serum sodium.