Anesthesiologic management of clinical orthotopic liver transplantation

: The first clinical experience of anesthesiological management during 6 orthotopic liver transplantations (5 primary operations and 1 retransplantation) in 2 males and 3 females, aged 20 to 52 years, is presented. The method of general anesthesia is described--the use of veno-venous bypass without systemic heparinization and rapid infusion system. Hemodynamic, temperature, metabolic and coagulologic homeostasis disturbances are analysed at different stages of orthotopic liver transplantation, especially upon reperfusion of the donor organ. The tactics of infusion-transfusion therapy, as well as correction of electrolyte disturbances and blood coagulation disorders are being discussed. Different intraoperative complications are characterized. It is concluded that anesthesiological management of liver transplantations is one of the most complex problems of modern anesthesiology which takes joint effort of a large team of specialists: surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusiologists, transfusiologists, and laboratory assistants specializing in different areas.