The comparison of the perioperative changes in lactate and prothrombin time between deceased versus living donor liver transplantation

Introduction: The present study compared the functional capacity of the grafts by evaluating changes in lactate and PT after reperfusion among deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) versus living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of primary adult liver transplantations (45 and 77 recipients in DDLT and LDLT, respectively) between January 2007 and December 2009. Lactate was recorded from 5 minutes after reperfusion of graft (R0) to intensive care unit admission (P0). PT expressed in international normalized ratio (INR) was recorded from R0 to postoperative day (POD) 5. These values were compared between two groups.

Results: The cold ischemia time (CIT), Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, INR, and graft-to-recipient weight ratio were greater in the recipients of DDLT versus LDLT. Lactate and INR at R0 were similar between the two groups, but, the values showed a faster recovery from 1 hour after reperfusion until P0 for lactate and until POD 5 for INR among DDLT recipients. The fresh frozen plasma requirements during corresponding periods were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion: The functional capacity of the graft measured by changes in lactate and PT after reperfusion showed faster recovery among DDLT versus LDLT recipients despite poorer graft quality (longer CIT) and the recipients' preoperative medical conditions-higher MELD and CTP scores.