Risk Factors and Outcomes of Intracardiac Thrombosis During Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Recommended Citation
Al-Darzi W, Alalwan Y, Askar F, Sadiq O, Venkat D, Gonzalez H, Galusca D, Yoshida A, and Jafri SM. Risk Factors and Outcomes of Intracardiac Thrombosis During Orthotopic Liver Transplantation. Transplant Proc 2020.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-24-2020
Publication Title
Transplantation proceedings
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intracardiac thrombosis incidence during orthotopic liver transplantation is estimated at 0.36% to 6.2% with mortality up to 68%. We aimed to evaluate risk factors and outcomes related to intracardiac thrombosis during orthotopic liver transplantation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive retrospective data review of 388 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at an urban transplant center from January 2013 to October 2016 was obtained.
RESULTS: Six patients were found to have documented intracardiac thrombosis; 4 cases were recognized during the reperfusion stage and 1 during pre-anhepatic stage. All allografts were procured from decreased donors with a median donor age of 44 years (interquartile range, 35.25-49.75) and the cause of death was listed as cerebrovascular accident in 5 donors. Preoperative demographic, clinical, laboratory, and historical risk factors did not differ in patients with thrombosis. None had a prior history of trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or gastrointestinal bleeding. Three patients had renal injury, but no intraoperative hemodialysis was performed. Transesophageal echocardiographic findings included elevated pulmonary artery pressure (1/6), right ventricular strain (1/6), and pulmonary artery thrombus (1/6). Three patients died intraoperatively. Tissue plasminogen activator alone was given to 1 patient who did not survive, intravenous heparin only to 1 patient with resolution, and a combination of both was used in 2 patients with clot resolution achieved.
CONCLUSION: Cardiac thrombosis should be considered in patients having hemodynamic compromise during liver transplantation. Transesophageal echocardiography is a useful diagnostic tool. Intracardiac thrombosis treatment remains challenging; however, using both thrombolytics and heparin could achieve better results.
Medical Subject Headings
Transplant and Abdominal Surgery
PubMed ID
33246584
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
