The effect of perioperative fluid therapy on early postoperative pulmonary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of perioperative fluid therapy on early postoperative pulmonary complication (PPC) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods: The clinical data of 132 patients who underwent OLT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from April 2016 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. These patients included 96 males and 36 females, aged (47.3±9.6) years (range: 24-69 years). Based on the clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging findings of patients in ICU and PPC occurrence within 7 days after OLT surgery, the patients were divided into 2 groups: non-PPC group and PPC group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between perioperative variables and PPC. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate cumulative survival of recipients with or without PPC within 2-years. Results: During the follow-up, 11 patients (8.3%) died and 72 patients (54.5%) developed PPC after operation. There were 34 cases, 6 cases, 3 cases, 4 cases, 15 cases, 6 cases and 4 cases of only pleural effusion, only pulmonary edema, only pneumonia, pleural effusion with pneumonia, pleural effusion with pulmonary edema, pleural effusion with atelectasis, and pleural effusion with pneumonia and pneumonia in PPC, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the preoperative factors (model for end-stage liver disease score), the intra-operative factors (duration of surgery, total infusion volume, total blood products) and the postoperative cumulative fluid balance within the first 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h were the prognosis factors of PPC (P<0.05). At least two out of the first three postoperative days with a fluid balance of ≤-500 ml was a protective factor. Using multivariate analysis by Logistic regression, only the red blood units >10 U (OR=3.55, 95% CI: 1.35-9.26, P=0.010) and the cumulative fluid intake >12 L (OR=2.98, 95% CI: 1.14-7.80, P=0.026) within the first 72 h after operation were independent prognosis factors of PPC after OLT. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate was lower in PPC group than that in non-PPC group (χ(2)=6.590, P=0.01). Conclusion: Massive red blood cell transfusion and the cumulative fluid volume >12 L during perioperative 72 hours are independent prognosis factors of PPC after OLT.