Lack of correlation between preoperative and intraoperative liver hemodynamics: a descriptive analysis

Adult living-donor liver transplantation recipients undergo important hemodynamic changes during the procedure, which in turn have proven to be of the upmost importance when dealing with small grafts, to avoid the so-called "small-for-size" syndrome.

Back in 2003, we started a hemodynamic monitoring protocol in adult living-donor liver transplantation recipients, which evaluated the hemodynamic status of the patient 24 hr before, during, and 3 days after transplantation. We analyzed the correlation between the same hemodynamic variables measured in the hemodynamic laboratory and those taken in the operating room.

With the exception of cardiac index and indexed systemic vascular resistance, all the other hepatic and systemic hemodynamic parameters measured before and during the intervention, as well as during and after the intervention, showed a lack of correlation.

The observed lack of correlation may happen due to many factors, such as the influence of vasoactive and anesthetic drugs, total muscular relaxation, or the presence of an open abdomen. As a result, a direct comparison between hemodynamic values should only be done when measured in the same conditions.