2023 Clinical Update in Liver Transplantation

• Published in: Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia 2024-06, Vol.38 (6), p.1390-1396
• Main Authors: Laporte, Chantal C. Mercier, Brown, Brittany, Wilke, Trevor J., Kassel, Cale A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia - methods; End Stage Liver Disease - surgery; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - methods; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - trends; Humans; Liver Transplantation - methods; Liver Transplantation - trends
• ISSN: 1053-0770; 1532-8422
• DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2024.02.029

Liver transplantation continues to provide life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. Advances in the field of transplant anesthesia continue to support the care of more complex patients. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been described in critical care settings and cardiac surgery but may be a valuable option for specific conditions for patients undergoing liver transplantation. Changes to the allocation process for liver grafts now focus on acuity circles to reduce regional disparities. As the number of life-saving transplant surgeries increases, so does the need for specialty knowledge in the anesthetic considerations of these procedures. The specialty of transplant anesthesia continues to grow and develop to meet the demands of complex patients and the increased number of transplants performed. Liver transplantation can be a resource-demanding procedure, and predicting the need for massive transfusion can aid in planning and preparing for significant blood loss.