Impact of Octreotide on Early Complications After Liver Transplant: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled...

Acute kidney injury and early allograft dysfunction are 2 common complications after liver transplant. Octreotide, through its various mechanisms, may have a role in preventing these complications.

In this randomized, double- blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, we randomly assigned 50 patients who underwent deceased donor liver transplant and fulfilled the study inclusion requirements to receive either octreotide infusion for 3 days in the first 3 days after transplant in the intensive care unit or placebo. The eligible patients were properly informed while on the transplant wait list and gave their consent to participate in the study. The rates of acute kidney injury within the first 7 days after transplant (based on KDIGO criteria), early allograft dysfunction, and nosocomial infection; total length of hospital stays and intensive care unit admissions; and intubation time were recorded and compared between the 2 groups.

No significant differences were found between the 2 groups with regard to demographic characteristics and graft factors (P > .05). However, acute kidney injury, early allograft dysfunction, and nosocomial infection rates were significantly lower in the octreotide group compared with the control group (P < .05). Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the 2 groups with regard to length of hospital stay and intensive care unit admissions (P < .05). For infection, female patients had a higher likelihood of infection than male patients (odds ratio = 23.19). Intensive care unit admission was associated with a higher probability of early graft dysfunction (odds ratio = 1.34). In contrast, longer intubation time was associated with a decrease in the probability of early graft dysfunction (odds ratio = 0.93).

This study showed that octreotide infusion in the first 3 days after liver transplant could improve renal and allograft function and reduce infection and length of hospital stay.