Hemodynamic Assessment During Auxiliary Heterotopic Liver Transplantation With Portal Vein Arterialization in a Swine Model: Preliminary Report of 10 Transplants

Portal vein arterialization (PVA) is a technical variation of auxiliary heterotopic liver transplantation (AHLT) that is rarely studied but that simplifies the AHLT surgical technique because it does not act on the portal area. The objective of this study was to analyze the hemodynamic consequences of this auxiliary transplant in an experimental model. Materials and Methods. Ten AHLT-PVA were analyzed in a pig model. A PiCCO (Pulsion) monitor was used for the hemodynamic study of the recipient. The following were measured: cardiac index, (CI), systemic vascular resistance index, (SVRI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), global end-diastolic volume, central venous pressure, and intrathoracic blood volume. The measurements were taken at four times during transplant: at baseline, after inferior vena cava clamping, after graft reperfusion, and at closure. Results. After graft reperfusion there was a reduction in SVRI (968 ± 168.03 vs 1686.25 ± 290.66; P <.05) and in MAP, and there was an increase in CI. At the end of the transplant MAP and SVRI recovered (1254.2 ± 225.79 vs 968 ± 168.03; P <.05) but CI remained slightly high. The end-diastolic volume showed greater variation than central venous pressure, although this was only statistically significant at the inferior vena cava clamping phase (244.75 ± 52.05 vs 333.37 ± 170.13; P <.05). Discussion. Heterotopic liver transplantation with portal arterialization is well-tolerated hemodynamically. Graft reperfusion decreases SVRI and increases CI to compensate for this. This behavior, which in healthy recipients like ours is not a problem, could imply a contraindication in patients with a prior hyperdynamic state.