Risk Factors of Hypothermia During Pediatric Liver Transplantation Using a Novel Warming Method

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Intraoperative hypothermia is a common complication in patients undergoing general anesthesia, particularly during liver transplantation (LT).
• Hypothermia can lead to severe, life-threatening conditions in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors contributing to intraoperative hypothermia in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
• To investigate the association between intraoperative hypothermia and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of pediatric LT patients who received intraoperative warming.
• Comparison of hypothermia (<35°C) and normothermia (≥35°C) groups based on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data.
• Multivariate analysis to determine predictors of intraoperative hypothermia and its impact on outcomes.

Main Results:

• The hypothermia group showed significant differences in age, weight, PELD score, graft-to-recipient weight ratio, blood loss, blood transfusion volume, and ICU stay.
• A strong association was found between intraoperative hypothermia and rejection within 30 days post-transplant.
• Multivariate analysis revealed that rejection was significantly associated with intraoperative hypothermia (OR = 32.553, p = 0.011).

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative hypothermia is a significant risk factor for 30-day rejection in pediatric liver transplant patients.
• Close monitoring and management of core body temperature are essential during pediatric LT to minimize rejection risk.