Long-term survival after 67 hours of anhepatic state due to primary liver allograft nonfunction

Acute Liver Failure Guidelines

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare, acute, potentially reversible condition resulting in severe liver impairment and rapid clinical deterioration in patients without preexisting liver disease. Due to the rarity of this condition, published studies are limited by the use of retrospective or prospective cohorts and lack of randomized controlled trials. Current guidelines represent the suggested approach to the identification, treatment, and management of ALF and represent the official practice recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology. The scientific evidence was reviewed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation process to develop recommendations. When no robust evidence was available, expert opinions were summarized using Key Concepts. Considering the variety of clinical presentations of ALF, individualization of care should be applied in specific clinical scenarios.

Utilization and outcomes of rescue hepatectomy among U.S. liver retransplant candidates

INTRODUCTION

The frequency and outcomes of anhepatic patients listed for transplantation in the United States have not been studied. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) records anhepatic status for patients listed as Status 1A for hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) or primary non-function (PNF).

METHODS

Using the UNOS database from 2005 to 2020, demographics and waitlist outcomes of anhepatic candidates relisted as Status 1A for HAT or PNF were assessed.

RESULTS

Among 1364 adult Status 1A patients relisted for PNF or HAT across 120 distinct transplant centres, 75 (5.5%) patients were anhepatic and 1289 (94.5%) were non-anhepatic. A substantial number of centres (n = 51) had experience with ≥1 anhepatic patient relisted for either PNF or HAT, with individual centre rates ranging from 0% to 11.4%. Waitlist mortality was more than twice as high for anhepatic patients: 42.5% versus 17.0% non-anhepatic patients (p < .001). The post-transplant outcomes of anhepatic patients were markedly inferior to non-anhepatic patients. For example, 41.9% of anhepatic patients died during the index admission versus 23.4% of the non-anhepatic group (p = .006). Patient survival for the anhepatic and non-anhepatic groups was 48.3% versus 66.2% at 1-year and 29.3% versus 46.2% at 5-years, respectively (log-rank test for overall survival p = .014).

CONCLUSIONS

Rescue hepatectomy after initial liver transplantation is not only associated with high waitlist mortality, but also markedly worse post-transplant outcomes. With less than half of anhepatic patients surviving to the first year post-LT, further research is warranted to better delineate which patients should be considered for rescue hepatectomy.

Primary Nonfunction of the Liver Allograft

Severe allograft dysfunction, as opposed to the expected immediate function, following liver transplantation is a major complication, and the clinical manifestations of such that lead to either immediate retransplant or death are the catastrophic end of the spectrum. Primary nonfunction (PNF) has declined in incidence over the years, yet the impact on patient and healthcare teams, and the burden on the organ pool in case of the need for retransplant should not be underestimated. There is no universal test to define the diagnosis of PNF, and current criteria are based on various biochemical parameters surrogate of liver function; moreover, a disparity remains within different healthcare systems on selecting candidates eligible for urgent retransplantation. The impact on PNF from traditionally accepted risk factors has changed somewhat, mainly driven by the rising demand for organs, combined with the concerted approach by clinicians on the in-depth understanding of PNF, optimal graft recipient selection, mitigation of the clinical environment in which a marginal graft is reperfused, and postoperative management. Regardless of the mode, available data suggest machine perfusion strategies help reduce the incidence further but do not completely avert the risk of PNF. The mainstay of management relies on identifying severe allograft dysfunction at a very early stage and aggressive management, while excluding other identifiable causes that mimic severe organ dysfunction. This approach may help salvage some grafts by preventing total graft failure and also maintaining a patient in an optimal physiological state if retransplantation is considered the ultimate patient salvage strategy.

The 2-stage liver transplant: 3 clinical scenarios

The main goal of 2-stage liver transplant is to provide time to obtain a new liver source. We describe our experience of 3 patients with 3 different clinical conditions. A 57-year-old man was retransplanted successfully with this technique due to hepatic artery thrombosis. However, a 38-year-old woman with fulminant toxic hepatitis and a 5-year-old-boy with abdominal trauma had poor outcome. This technique could serve as a rescue therapy for liver transplant patients who have toxic liver syndrome or abdominal trauma. These patients required intensive support during long anhepatic states. The transplant team should decide early whether to use this technique before irreversible conditions develop.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia associated with acute liver graft failure

An orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is of a proven benefit in an acute liver failure (ALF). Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is strongly associated with thromboembolic complications. We present the case of a 56-year-old patient who underwent an OLT owing to an ALF of unknown aetiology. HIT type II with consecutive hepatic and portal vein thrombosis caused progressive graft failure. Total hepatectomy and porto-caval shunt were performed to reduce the toxic effects of liver cell necrosis such as multiorgan failure involving the respiratory, renal and cardiovascular systems. A suitable liver graft was allocated after an anhepatic bridging period of 56 h. Specific complications due to end-stage liver failure-such as acidosis, coagulopathy, decrease of vascular resistance, cerebral oedema, myocardial infarction and right heart failure-were treated. Following a re-OLT, the patient made a complete recovery. We present a rare case of HIT-associated early liver graft failure followed by a prolonged anhepatic phase and finally a successful re-OLT.