[Liver resection for living-donor liver transplantation: anesthesia and intensive care aspects]

Abstract

The living related donor mortality after liver donation could occur as a result of postoperative cardiovascular and thromboembolic complication; which could be minimized by detailed preoperative assessment of the living donor. The preoperative functional tests evaluate the physiological reserve or identify the living donors with limited response to the surgical stress. Based on the results of CT volumetry, MRI and liver functional reserve capacity test (indocyanine green retention ratio) the liver resection can be done safely. The preoperative cytochrome P enzymes tests of donors identify the drugs with abnormal metabolism. Balanced anesthesia combined with thoracic epidural anesthesia is done with liver safe, renal safe and ischemic preconditioning drugs. Normovolemic state is maintained with physiologic extrahepatic perfusion and oxygenation conditions. The central venous and hepatic artery pressure is reduced with the guarantee of optimal hepatic perfusion-oxygenation and better liver resection condition. Intraoperative thrombosis prophylaxis is performed with sequential compression device. After liver resection the donor morbidity can be reduced, effective analgesia, thrombosis prophylaxis, liver safe drug therapy and a tight monitoring. Before the first postoperative mobilization a deep vein Doppler ultrasound control is proposed.