Intensive care complications in liver and multivisceral transplantation

Transplant Proc. 2005 Jul-Aug;37(6):2618-21. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.06.046.

Abstract

The complications concerning liver and intestinal transplant surgery have relevance for the field of intensive care because they share some characteristics with those following complex long-term surgery. Thus, in this article we shall try to describe complications that are specific to liver and multivisceral transplants. A review of the existing literature on this topic reveals a large number of studies dedicated to early as well as late surgical complications, and immunosuppressive treatment, while there are far fewer contributions describing complications exclusively concerning intensive care. We shall thus attempt to focus on certain aspects where, besides the literature data, we have personal experience. In particular we want to underline the implications of failure in the functional recovery of the graft; alterations in water, electrolyte, and glycemic balance; as well as neurological, respiratory, renal, nutritional, and infective complications.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Critical Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Infections / epidemiology
  • Infections / therapy
  • Kidney Diseases / epidemiology
  • Kidney Diseases / therapy
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / therapy
  • Nutrition Disorders / epidemiology
  • Nutrition Disorders / therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / therapy
  • Viscera / transplantation*
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / epidemiology
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / therapy