Anaesthetic Management of Renal and Liver Transplantation Recipients During Caesarean Section

The aim of this study was to present our experience in liver transplantation recipients and renal transplantation recipients during caesarean section.

Retrospective data regarding liver transplantation recipients and renal transplantation recipients who underwent caesarean section between January 1997 and January 2017 have been collected from the hospital records.

Fourteen live births occurred from 5 liver transplantation recipients and 9 renal transplantation recipients, all of them from caesarean section. The mean maternal age (28.4 ± 4.0 years vs. 29.2 ± 4.1 years, P = .38), body weight before conception (57.4 ± 8.8 kg vs. 64.5 ± 8.2 kg, P = .48), and the time from transplantation to conception (99.0 ± 50.7 months vs. 101.0 ± 57.5 months, P = .46) were similar for 5 liver transplantation recipients and 9 renal transplantation recipients, respectively. Four caesarean sections were performed under general anaesthesia, whereas spinal anaesthesia was used in 10 patients. The mean birth weight was similar (2502 ± 311g vs. 2161 ± 658 g, P = .3). There were 3 premature deliveries in liver transplantation recipients versus 6 premature deliveries in renal transplantation recipients and 2 low-birth-weight infants (<2500 g) in liver transplantation recipients versus 4 in renal transplantation recipients among 14 newborns. Infants small for gestational age were diagnosed in 9/14 (3 liver transplantation recipients versus 6 renal transplantation recipients, P = 1).

General and regional anaesthesia can be safely used during caesarean delivery of liver transplantation recipients and renal transplantation recipients without increased risk of graft losses. Prematurity and low birth weight were mainly due to the cytotoxic drugs for immunosuppression. There are no differences in liver transplantation recipients and renal transplantation recipients for maternal and foetal complications according to our data.