Effect of stroke volume variation-directed fluid management on blood loss during living-donor right hepatectomy: a randomised controlled study

Hypovolaemic phlebotomy in patients undergoing hepatic resection at higher risk of blood loss (PRICE-2): a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Blood loss and subsequent red blood cell transfusions are common in liver surgery. Hypovolaemic phlebotomy is associated with decreased red blood cell transfusion in observational studies. This trial aimed to investigate whether hypovolaemic phlebotomy is superior to usual care in reducing red blood cell transfusions in patients undergoing liver resection.

METHODS

PRICE-2 was a multicentre, single-blind, superiority randomised controlled trial. Patients at a higher risk of blood loss undergoing liver resection for any indication at four Canadian academic tertiary-care hospitals were randomised to receive hypovolaemic phlebotomy or usual care. Hypovolaemic phlebotomy consisted of the removal of 7-10 mL/kg of whole blood, without volume replacement, before liver transection. Patients were randomised centrally using permuted blocks of randomly variable length, stratified by centre. The randomisation sequence was computer-generated by an independent statistician. Surgeons, patients, and outcome assessors were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was perioperative red blood cell transfusion to 30 days post-randomisation, analysed in all randomly assigned patients who underwent liver resection. PRICE-2 trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03651154) and is completed.

FINDINGS

Between Oct 1, 2018, and Jan 13, 2023, 486 individuals were randomly assigned to receive hypovolaemic phlebotomy (n=245) or usual care (n=241). 22 individuals in the hypovolaemic phlebotomy group and 18 in the usual care group did not undergo liver resection and were thus excluded from the primary analysis population. 223 patients were included in the hypovolaemic phlebotomy group (mean age 61·4 years [SD 13·0]; 137 [61%] men) and 223 in the control group (62·1 years [12·1]; 114 [51%]). 17 (8%) of 223 patients allocated to hypovolaemic phlebotomy and 36 (16%) of 223 patients allocated to usual care had a perioperative red blood cell transfusion by 30 days (difference -8·8 percentage points [95% CI -14·8 to -2·8]; adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 0·47 [95% CI 0·27 to 0·82]). Severe complications to 30 days occurred in 37 (17%) patients allocated to hypovolaemic phlebotomy and 36 (16%) allocated to usual care (aRR 1·06 [95% CI 0·70-1·61]). Overall complications to 30 days occurred in 135 (61%) of 223 patients allocated to hypovolaemic phlebotomy and 116 (52%) of 223 patients allocated to usual care (1·08 [0·92-1·25]). There was no postoperative mortality to 90 days.

INTERPRETATION

In patients undergoing liver resection, hypovolaemic phlebotomy reduced perioperative red blood cell transfusion and improved operative conditions, with no statistically significant increase in the incidence of complications compared with usual care. Hypovolaemic phlebotomy should be considered for routine use in patients undergoing liver resection at higher risk of bleeding.

FUNDING

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (PJT-156108).

Management of severe peri-operative bleeding: Guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care: Second update 2022

BACKGROUND

Management of peri-operative bleeding is complex and involves multiple assessment tools and strategies to ensure optimal patient care with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality. These updated guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) aim to provide an evidence-based set of recommendations for healthcare professionals to help ensure improved clinical management.

DESIGN

A systematic literature search from 2015 to 2021 of several electronic databases was performed without language restrictions. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies and to formulate recommendations. A Delphi methodology was used to prepare a clinical practice guideline.

RESULTS

These searches identified 137 999 articles. All articles were assessed, and the existing 2017 guidelines were revised to incorporate new evidence. Sixteen recommendations derived from the systematic literature search, and four clinical guidances retained from previous ESAIC guidelines were formulated. Using the Delphi process on 253 sentences of guidance, strong consensus (>90% agreement) was achieved in 97% and consensus (75 to 90% agreement) in 3%.

DISCUSSION

Peri-operative bleeding management encompasses the patient's journey from the pre-operative state through the postoperative period. Along this journey, many features of the patient's pre-operative coagulation status, underlying comorbidities, general health and the procedures that they are undergoing need to be taken into account. Due to the many important aspects in peri-operative nontrauma bleeding management, guidance as to how best approach and treat each individual patient are key. Understanding which therapeutic approaches are most valuable at each timepoint can only enhance patient care, ensuring the best outcomes by reducing blood loss and, therefore, overall morbidity and mortality.

CONCLUSION

All healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients at risk for surgical bleeding should be aware of the current therapeutic options and approaches that are available to them. These guidelines aim to provide specific guidance for bleeding management in a variety of clinical situations.

Intermittent Pringle maneuver combined with controlled low Central venous pressure prolongs hepatic hilum occlusion time in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by post hepatitis B cirrhosis: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The optimal occlusion and reperfusion time to balance blood loss and ischemia-reperfusion injury to the remnant liver remains unclear. The aim was to explore the clinical impact of prolonging the hepatic hilum occlusion time from 15 to 20 min using the intermittent Pringle maneuver (IPM) combined with controlled low central venous pressure (CLCVP).Methods: A total of 151 patients were included and divided into an experimental group (Group 20,75 cases) and a control group (Group 15,76 cases). In both groups, the hepatic hilum was blocked by the IPM combined with CLCVP to control intraoperative hepatic cross-sectional bleeding. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative parameters and safety were compared between the two groups.Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the postoperative aminotransferase serum levels (p > 0.05). However, the operation time in Group 20 was significantly lower than that in Group 15 (222.4 ± 87.8 vs. 250.7 ± 94.5 min, p < 0.05). The procalcitonin at 1 day after operation in Group 20 was lower than that at 1 day after operation in Group 15 (0.78 ± 0.66 vs. 1.45 ± 1.33 ng/mL, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative bleeding, postoperative bile leakage and postoperative infection between the two groups (p > 0.05).Conclusions: For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis B cirrhosis, it is feasible and safe to prolong the hepatic hilum occlusion time from 15 to 20 min using the IPM combined with CLCVP.

Impact of conventional vs. goal-directed fluid therapy on urethral tissue perfusion in patients undergoing liver surgery: A pilot randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Although fluid administration is a key strategy to optimise haemodynamic status and tissue perfusion, optimal fluid administration during liver surgery remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that a goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) strategy, when compared with a conventional fluid strategy, would better optimise systemic blood flow and lead to improved urethral tissue perfusion (a new variable to assess peripheral blood flow), without increasing blood loss.

DESIGN

Single-centre prospective randomised controlled superiority study.

SETTING

Erasme Hospital.

PATIENTS

Patients undergoing liver surgery.

INTERVENTION

Forty patients were randomised into two groups: all received a basal crystalloid infusion (maximum 2 ml kg-1 h-1). In the conventional fluid group, the goal was to maintain central venous pressure (CVP) as low as possible during the dissection phase by giving minimal additional fluid, while in the posttransection phase, anaesthetists were free to compensate for any presumed fluid deficit. In the GDFT group, patients received in addition to the basal infusion, multiple minifluid challenges of crystalloid to maintain stroke volume (SV) variation less than 13%. Noradrenaline infusion was titrated to keep mean arterial pressure more than 65 mmHg in all patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The mean intra-operative urethral perfusion index.

RESULTS

The mean urethral perfusion index was significantly higher in the GDFT group than in the conventional fluid group (8.70 [5.72 to 13.10] vs. 6.05 [4.95 to 8.75], P = 0.046). SV index (ml m-2) and cardiac index (l min-1 m-2) were higher in the GDFT group (48 ± 9 vs. 33 ± 7 and 3.5 ± 0.7 vs. 2.4 ± 0.4, respectively; P < 0.001). Although CVP was higher in the GDFT group (9.3 ± 2.5 vs. 6.5 ± 2.9 mmHg; P = 0.003), intra-operative blood loss was not significantly different in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing liver surgery, a GDFT strategy resulted in a higher mean urethral perfusion index than did a conventional fluid strategy and did not increase blood loss despite higher CVP.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04092608.

Risk factors of delayed recovery from general anesthesia in patients undergoing radical biliary surgery: What can we prevent

Delayed recovery (DR) is very commonly seen in the patients undergoing laparoscopic radical biliary surgery, we aimed to investigate the potential risk factors of DR in the patients undergoing radical biliary surgery, to provide evidences into the management of DR.Patients who underwent radical biliary surgery from January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020 were identified. The clinical characteristics and treatment details of DR and no-DR patients were compared and analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the potential influencing factors for DR in patients with laparoscopic radical biliary surgery.We included a total of 168 patients with laparoscopic radical biliary surgery, the incidence of postoperative DR was 25%. There were significant differences on the duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, and use of intraoperative combined sevoflurane inhalation (all P < .05), and there were not significant differences on American Society of Anesthesiologists, New York Heart Association, tumor-lymph node- metastasis, and estimated blood loss between DR group and control group (all P > .05). Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that age ≥70 years (odd ratio [OR] 1.454, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.146-1.904), body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 (OR 1.303, 95% CI 1.102-1.912), alcohol drinking (OR 2.041, 95% CI 1.336-3.085), smoking (OR 1.128, 95% CI 1.007-2.261), duration of surgery ≥220 minutes (OR 1.239, 95% CI 1.039-1.735), duration of anesthesia ≥230 minutes (OR 1.223, 95% CI 1.013-1.926), intraoperative combined sevoflurane inhalation (OR 1.207, 95% CI 1.008-1.764) were the independent risk factors for DR in patients with radical biliary surgery (all P < .05).It is clinically necessary to take early countermeasures against various risk factors to reduce the occurrence of DR, and to improve the prognosis of patients.

Hemodynamically adjusted infrahepatic inferior venous cava clamping can reduce postoperative deterioration in renal function: a retrospective observational study

PURPOSE

Infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IIVC) clamping is beneficial for reducing the amount of bleeding during hepatic surgery, although the associated systemic circulatory deterioration is noticeable. The relationship between changes in the degree of IIVC clamping and postoperative renal function was retrospectively evaluated.

METHODS

A total of 59 patients who underwent elective hepatic surgery with surgical IIVC clamping in the two years were analyzed. In 2016, constant 80% clamping of the IIVC was performed (29 cases), and in 2017, hemodynamically adjusted IIVC clamping was performed (30 cases). Intraoperative parameters, including total blood loss and number of blood transfusions, were examined. The use of each vasoactive agents was analyzed. Renal function in the acute postoperative phase was evaluated using serum creatinine (Cr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values.

RESULTS

Comparison of the two groups showed that bolus doses of both ephedrine and phenylephrine were significantly higher in the 2016 group (P = 0.0221, 0.0017). Continuous doses of dopamine were significantly higher in the 2016 group, while those of noradrenaline were not. Postoperative serum Cr levels relative to baseline (%) were significantly higher in the 2016 group immediately after surgery and on postoperative day (POD) 1 (P = 0.0143, 0.0012). Postoperative eGFR relative to baseline (%) was significantly higher in the 2016 group immediately postoperatively and on PODs 1 and 2 (P = 0.0042, 0.0003, 0.0382).

CONCLUSION

Hemodynamically adjustable IIVC clamping might be superior to uniformly fixed clamping in preserving renal function without compromising the desired effect on hemostasis.

Goal directed fluid therapy for major liver resection: A multicentre randomized controlled trial

Background

The effect a restrictive goal directed therapy (GDT) fluid protocol combined with an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme on hospital stay for patients undergoing major liver resection is unknown.

Methods

We conducted a multicentre randomized controlled pilot trial evaluating whether a patient-specific, surgery-specific intraoperative restrictive fluid optimization algorithm would improve duration of hospital stay and reduce perioperative fluid related complications.

Results

Forty-eight participants were enrolled. The median (IQR) length of hospital stay was 7.0 days (7.0:8.0) days in the restrictive fluid optimization algorithm group (Restrict group) vs. 8.0 days (6.0:10.0) in the conventional care group (Conventional group) (Incidence rate ratio 0.85; 95% Confidence Interval 0.71:1.1; p = 0.17). No statistically significant difference in expected number of complications per patient between groups was identified (IRR 0.85; 95%CI: 0.45–1.60; p = 0.60). Patients in the Restrict group had lower intraoperative fluid balances: 808 mL (571:1565) vs. 1345 mL (900:1983) (p = 0.04) and received a lower volume of fluid per kg/hour intraoperatively: 4.3 mL/kg/hr (2.6:5.8) vs. 6.0 mL/kg/hr (4.2:7.6); p = 0.03. No significant differences in the proportion of patients who received vasoactive drugs intraoperatively (p = 0.56) was observed.

Conclusion

In high-volume hepatobiliary surgical units, the addition of a fluid restrictive intraoperative cardiac output-guided algorithm, combined with a standard ERAS protocol did not significantly reduce length of hospital stay or fluid related complications. Our findings are hypothesis-generating and a larger confirmatory study may be justified.

•

Major liver resection is a complex procedure with up to 40% patients experiencing complications.

•

Optimisation of perfusion and oxygen delivery to all organs remain the cornerstone of best hemodynamic care.

•

Traditionally, a low central venous pressure strategy during major liver resection has been used to reduce venous bleeding.

•

The impact of a restrictive cardiac output fluid optimisation algorithm during major liver surgery is unknown.

•

After major hepatobiliary surgery, a fluid restrictive algorithm did not reduce length of hospital stay or complications.

A Comparative Study of Intraoperative Fluid Management Using Stroke Volume Variation in Liver Resection

Objective:

The aim of this study is to examine whether intraoperative fluid management with stroke volume variation (SVV) can achieve safe intravenous fluid restriction and contribute to decreasing intraoperative blood loss in liver surgery.

Background:

In liver surgery, maintaining the central venous pressure (CVP) at a low level is effective in decreasing intraoperative blood loss. Recently, several studies have suggested that SVV obtained using the FloTrac system demonstrated a better fluid responsiveness than CVP.

Methods:

We enrolled 30 patients undergoing liver resection since May 2015 in this prospective observational study, and we set the SVV target during liver transection at 13%–20% (SVV group). Forty-three cases of liver resection that we performed between January 2014 and March 2015 without using CVP or SVV were used as the Control group. We compared the 2 groups by using intraoperative blood loss as the primary endpoint.

Results:

There was no significant difference in patient characteristics between the 2 groups. The mean SVV during liver transection in the SVV group was 15.6 ± 4.4%. The infusion volume until completion of liver transection in the Control group was 9.4 mL/kg/h, whereas that of the SVV group was 3.3 mL/kg/h, a significantly lower volume (P &lt; 0.001). The median intraoperative blood loss was significantly decreased in the SVV group compared with the Control group (391 versus 1068 mL; P &lt; 0.001). The intraoperative transfusion rate was also significantly decreased in the SVV group.

Conclusion:

We demonstrated that intraoperative management with SVV can achieve safe intravenous fluid restriction and is useful for decrease intraoperative blood loss in liver surgery.

Effect of Hydroxyethyl Starch on Acute Kidney Injury After Living Donor Hepatectomy

BACKGROUND

Concerns about the adverse effects of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on renal function have been raised in recent studies involving critically ill patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of HES on acute kidney injury (AKI) after living donor right hepatectomy.

METHODS

We performed a 1:3 propensity score matching analysis of the medical records of 1641 living donors who underwent a donor right hepatectomy. They were divided into the control group (n = 60), who received only crystalloids, and the colloid group (n = 1,581), who received HES 130/0.4 and crystalloids. Postoperative AKI was determined by AKI Network (AKIN) and Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-stage (RIFLE) criteria.

RESULTS

A 1:3 propensity score matching was performed in 206 donors, 54 donors in the control group and 152 donors in the colloid group. For the matched colloid group, the median amount of 7.65 mL/kg (interquartile range, 6.64-9.20) of colloid and 58.19 mL/kg (interquartile range, 45.63-71.51) of crystalloid were given. The median amount of administered crystalloid in the control group was 56.48 mL/kg (interquartile range, 47.94-76.12) after propensity score matching. The incidences of AKI were not different between the control and colloid groups (P = .460 by AKIN criteria; P = .999 by RIFLE criteria).

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative administration of HES may not be associated with AKI after living donor hepatectomy. This result can provide useful information on perioperative fluid management in living liver donors.

Efficacy and Safety of Stroke Volume Variation-Guided Fluid Therapy for Reducing Blood Loss and Transfusion Requirements During Radical Cystectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Radical cystectomy, which is performed to treat muscle-invasive bladder tumors, is among the most difficult urological surgical procedures and puts patients at risk of intraoperative blood loss and transfusion. Fluid management via stroke volume variation (SVV) is associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of SVV-guided fluid therapy for reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.This study included 48 patients who underwent radical cystectomy, and these patients were randomly allocated to the control group and maintained at <10% SVV (n = 24) or allocated to the trial group and maintained at 10% to 20% SVV (n = 24). The primary endpoints were comparisons of the amounts of intraoperative blood loss and transfused red blood cells (RBCs) between the control and trial groups during radical cystectomy. Intraoperative blood loss was evaluated through the estimated blood loss and estimated red cell mass loss. The secondary endpoints were comparisons of the postoperative outcomes between groups.A total of 46 patients were included in the final analysis: 23 patients in the control group and 23 patients in the trial group. The SVV values in the trial group were significantly higher than in the control group. Estimated blood loss, estimated red cell mass loss, and RBC transfusion requirements in the trial group were significantly lower than in the control group (734.3 ± 321.5 mL vs 1096.5 ± 623.9 mL, P = 0.019; 274.1 ± 207.8 mL vs 553.1 ± 298.7 mL, P <0.001; 0.5 ± 0.8 units vs 1.9 ± 2.2 units, P = 0.005). There were no significant differences in postoperative outcomes between the two groups.SVV-guided fluid therapy (SVV maintained at 10%-20%) can reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing radical cystectomy without resulting in adverse outcomes. These findings provide useful information for optimal fluid management during radical cystectomy.

High Stroke Volume Variation Method by Mannitol Administration Can Decrease Blood Loss During Donor Hepatectomy

Optimal fluid management to reduce blood loss during donor hepatectomy is important for maximizing donor safety. Mannitol can induce osmotic diuresis, helping prevent increased intravascular volume status. We therefore evaluated the effect of high stroke volume variation (SVV) method by mannitol administration and fluid restriction on blood loss during donor hepatectomy.In this prospective study, 64 donors scheduled for donor right hepatectomy were included and allocated into 2 groups. In group A, the SVV value of each patient was maintained at 10% to 20% during hepatic resection with 0.5 g/kg mannitol administration and fluid restriction at a rate of 2 to 4 mL/kg/h. In group B, the SVV value was maintained at <10% by fluid administration at a rate of 6 to 10 mL/kg/h without diuretic administration during surgery. Intraoperative blood loss was estimated by the loss of red cell mass. Surgeon satisfaction scores and postoperative outcomes, including acute kidney injury, abnormal chest radiographic findings, and hospital stay duration, were also assessed.SVV during hepatectomy was significantly higher in group A than in group B (11.0 ± 1.7 vs 6.5 ± 1.1, P < 0.001). The red cell mass loss was significantly lower in group A than in group B (145.4 ± 107.6 vs 307.9 ± 110.7 mL, P < 0.001). Surgeon satisfaction scores were higher in group A than in group B (2.8 ± 0.5 vs 2.0 ± 0.6, P < 0.001). The incidence of acute kidney injury, abnormal chest radiographic findings, and duration of hospital stay did not significantly differ between the 2 groups.Maintenance of high SVV by mannitol administration is effective and safe for reducing blood loss during donor hepatectomy.

Relationship between Stroke Volume Variation and Blood Transfusion during Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative blood transfusion increases the risk for perioperative mortality and morbidity in liver transplant recipients. A high stroke volume variation (SVV) method has been proposed to reduce blood loss during living donor hepatectomy. Herein, we investigated whether maintaining high SVV could reduce the need for blood transfusion and also evaluated the effect of the high SVV method on postoperative outcomes in liver transplant recipients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 332 patients who underwent liver transplantation, divided into control (maintaining <10% of SVV during surgery) and high SVV (maintaining 10-20% of SVV during surgery) groups. We evaluated the blood transfusion requirement and hemodynamic parameters, including SVV, as well as postoperative outcomes, such as incidences of acute kidney injury, durations of postoperative intensive care unit and hospital stay, and rates of 1-year mortality.

RESULTS

Mean SVV values were 7.0% ± 1.3% in the control group (n = 288) and 11.2% ± 1.8% in the high SVV group (n = 44). The median numbers of transfused packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasmas in the high SVV group were significantly lower than those in control group (0 vs. 2 units, P = 0.003; and 0 vs. 3 units, P = 0.033, respectively). No significant between-group differences were observed for postoperative outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Maintaining high SVV can reduce the blood transfusion requirement during liver transplantation without worsening postoperative outcomes. These findings provide insights into improving perioperative management in liver transplant recipients.

Fluid management in living donor hepatectomy: Recent issues and perspectives

The importance of the safety of healthy living liver donors is widely recognized during donor hepatectomy which is associated with blood loss, transfusion, and subsequent post-operative morbidity. Although the low central venous pressure (CVP) technique can still be effective, it may not be advantageous concerning the safety of healthy donors undergoing hepatectomy. Emerging evidence suggests that stroke volume variation (SVV), a simple and useful index for fluid responsiveness and preload status in various clinical situations, can be applied as a guide for fluid management to reduce blood loss during living donor hepatectomy. Synthetic colloid solutions are also associated with serious adverse events such as the use of renal replacement therapy and transfusion in critically ill or septic patients. However, it is uncertain whether the intra-operative use of colloid solution is associated with similarly adverse effects in patients undergoing living donor hepatectomy. In this review article we discuss the recent issues regarding the low CVP technique and the high SVV method, i.e., maintaining 10%-20% of SVV, for fluid management in order to reduce blood loss during living donor hepatectomy. In addition, we briefly discuss the effects of intra-operative colloid or crystalloid administration for surgical rather than septic or critically ill patients.