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Updated: May 7, 2026

Heterotopic Auxiliary Rat Liver Transplantation With Flow-regulated Portal Vein Arterialization in Acute Hepatic Failure
Published on: September 13, 2014
Intractable metabolic acidosis in a child with propionic acidemia undergoing liver transplantation -a case report-
Jiyoung Ryu1, Young Hee Shin, Justin Sangwook Ko
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Anesthetic management for propionic acidemia (PA) patients undergoing liver transplantation requires careful attention to metabolic acidosis. Key considerations include maintaining tissue perfusion, preventing hypoglycemia, and administering bicarbonate.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Medical Science
Background:
- Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare metabolic disorder.
- It results from deficient propionyl-CoA carboxylase activity.
- Clinical features include metabolic acidosis and developmental issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe anesthetic considerations for PA patients undergoing liver transplantation.
- To highlight strategies for managing metabolic acidosis during anesthesia.
Main Methods:
- This is a case report.
- Anesthetic management strategies were reviewed.
- Focus on avoiding acidosis precipitation.
Main Results:
- Anesthetic management is critical for PA patients.
- Maintaining optimal tissue perfusion is vital.
- Preventing hypoglycemia and providing bicarbonate are key.
Conclusions:
- Anesthesia for PA liver transplant requires minimizing metabolic acidosis.
- Strategies include maintaining perfusion, preventing hypoglycemia, and bicarbonate administration.
- Careful anesthetic planning improves patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of metabolism caused by deficient activity of the mitochondrial enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase. The clinical manifestations are metabolic acidosis, poor feeding, lethargy, vomiting, osteoporosis, neurological dysfunction, pancytopenia, developmental retardation and cardiomyopathy. Liver transplantation has recently been considered as one of the treatment options for patients with PA. This case report describes several anesthetic considerations for patients with PA undergoing liver transplantation. Understanding the patient's status and avoiding events that may precipitate metabolic acidosis are important for anesthetic management of patients with PA. In conclusion, anesthesia should be focused on minimizing the severity of metabolic acidosis with following considerations: (1) maintaining optimal tissue perfusion by avoiding hypotension, (2) preventing hypoglycemia, and (3) providing bicarbonate to compensate for the acidosis.
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