Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society
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Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving therapy; therefore, equitable distribution of this scarce resource is of paramount importance. We searched contemporary literature on racial, gender, and socioeconomic disparities across the LT care cascade in referral, waitlist practices, allocation, and post-LT care. We subsequently identified gaps in the literature and future research priorities. ⋯ Prospective registries and alternative "real-world" databases can provide more detailed information on disease burden and clinical practices. Modeling and simulation studies can identify ways to reduce gender disparities attributed to size or inaccurate estimation of renal function. Mixed-methods studies and clinical trials should be conducted to reduce care disparities across the transplant continuum.
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Acute clinical deterioration of a patient with chronic liver disease remains a decisive time point both in terms of medical management and prognosis. This condition, also known as acute decompensation (AD), is an important event determining a crossroad in the trajectory of patients. A significant number of patients with AD may develop hepatic or extrahepatic organ failure, or both, which defines the syndrome acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), and ACLF is associated with a high morbidity and short-term mortality. ⋯ When organ failures develop in the presence of cirrhosis, especially extrahepatic organ failures, liver transplantation (LT) may be the only curative treatment. This review outlines the evidence supporting LT in ACLF patients, highlighting the role of timing, bridging to LT, and possible indicators of futility. Importantly, prospective studies on ACLF and transplantation are urgently needed.
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End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality as well as symptom burden. Despite this, the rate of consultation with palliative care (PC) providers remains low, and invasive procedures near the end of life are commonplace. Studies show that involvement of PC providers improves patient satisfaction, and evidence from other chronic diseases demonstrates reduced costs of care and potentially increased survival. ⋯ Additionally, reimbursement barriers and lack of provider knowledge may contribute to PC underutilization. In this review, we discuss the benefits of PC in ESLD, the variability of its delivery, and key stakeholders' perceptions about its use. Additionally, we identify barriers to more widespread PC adoption and highlight areas for future research.
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Hyponatremia in cirrhosis is defined as a serum sodium level ≤130 mEq/L and occurs in approximately 22% of patients with cirrhosis. The appearance of hyponatremia in patients with cirrhosis portends a poor prognosis before liver transplantation (LT), independent of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. With the development of the MELD-sodium score, the management of hyponatremia has become more relevant than ever before. ⋯ Risk factors for intraoperative overcorrection of serum sodium include increased utilization of packed red blood cell and fresh frozen plasma transfusions, which are often unavoidable. Intraoperative management is evolving, and more data are needed in regard to the use of sodium-reduced continuous venovenous hemofiltration and the use of trishydroxymethylaminomethane (Tris) to avoid excess sodium rebound. A thorough discussion of the current treatment options before and during LT is given in this review.
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Optimal involvement of palliative care (PC) services in the management of patients with decompensated cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease (ESLD) is limited. This may result from both ignorance and the failure to recognize the spectrum and unpredictability of the underlying liver condition. ⋯ This review provides an evidence-based analysis of the benefits of the integration of palliative care into the management of patients with ESLD. Liver Transplantation 24 961-968 2018 AASLD.