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Right ventricular ejection fraction during orthotopic liver transplantation: does anesthetic technique make a
Glauber Gouvêa1, Rodrigo Diaz, Lúcio Auler
1Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Anesthesiology, Bonsucesso General Hospital, Rio de Janeiro 21041-030, Brazil.
Purpose:
The objective of this study is to evaluate the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) under 2 different anesthetic regimens: propofol vs isoflurane anesthesia.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed the hemodynamic data of 25 (n = 25) patients who underwent OLT during the last year (2008). All patients were monitored with a modified pulmonary artery catheter, which continuously measured the RVEF. Anesthetic technique consisted of either isoflurane or total intravenous anesthesia with propofol. Surgical technique was similar between groups.
Results:
Ten (n = 10) patients comprised the isoflurane group (I), whereas 15 (n = 15) patients received propofol anesthesia (P). The RVEF was not significantly different between groups (I vs P, baseline: 41% ± 9% vs 40% ± 6%; anhepatic phase: 36% ± 8% vs 35% ± 6%; postreperfusion: 41% ± 6% vs 41% ± 8%; P = not significant).
Conclusions:
The choice between propofol and isoflurane seems to have minimal influence on the RVEF during OLT, which followed similar trends regardless of the anesthetic technique.
