Management of the liver transplant candidate with high cardiac risk: Multidisciplinary best practices and...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Transplant Surgery

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of alcohol-associated and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseases.
• Aging patient demographic leading to a rise in cardiac comorbidities among liver transplant candidates.
• Cardiac comorbidities impact transplant eligibility, intraoperative management, and posttransplant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on managing cardiac comorbidities in liver transplant candidates.
• To provide recommendations for optimizing preoperative and intraoperative care.
• To improve and standardize clinical management of these complex patients.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of recent evidence.
• Focus on coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy.
• Analysis of preoperative and intraoperative management strategies.

Main Results:

• Significant need for evidence-based guidelines for cardiac comorbidity management in liver transplant recipients.
• Current management practices require optimization.
• Multidisciplinary approach is essential for effective care.

Conclusions:

• Standardized, evidence-based recommendations are needed for managing cardiac comorbidities in liver transplant candidates.
• Optimized perioperative cardiac care can improve transplant outcomes.
• Further research is warranted to address evidence gaps.