Published online Apr 24, 2018. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v8.i2.44
Peer-review started: February 19, 2018
First decision: March 7, 2018
Revised: March 12, 2018
Accepted: April 1, 2018
Article in press: April 1, 2018
Published online: April 24, 2018
Processing time: 63 Days and 15.3 Hours
Liver transplantation (LT) has become an option in treating a wide variety of liver diseases. Patients undergoing LT are at high risk of perioperative complications and death. Recently, there has been considerable interest in perioperative fluid therapy following major surgeries. Important question is whether fluid overload is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes after LT. Previous reports indicate that restrictive strategy of fluids in surgical patients is beneficial. The influence of fluid accumulation on morbidity and mortality after LT has not been well evaluated up to now.
The aim of the study was to analyze whether cumulative positive fluid balance (FB) is associated with the occurrence of adverse outcomes after LT.
Patients were retrospectively evaluated. In the present study, most of the patients were submitted to a liberal approach of fluid administration. Accumulated fluid balance (acFB), assessed within the first 12 hours and the 4 days following surgery, was compared with major adverse outcomes after LT.
Cumulative positive FB over 4 d after LT influences the development of acute kidney injury and it is a risk factor for the requirement for dialysis. No effect on patient survival was independently related to fluid balance.
Our results show that fluid overload is a marker of severity of illness.
We hope that these results may contribute to the management of liver grafted patients.