NEUROMUSCULAR COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

We studied neuromuscular complications in a cohort of 520 patients wit h liver transplantation. Perioperative mononeuropathy developed in 9 p atients. The peroneal nerve, radial nerve, and cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve were affected in 2 patients each, Two patients had herp es tester-associated radiculopathy, and 1 patient had Horner's syndrom e. Recovery was good in most patients. In 7 patients, severe quadriple gia complicated the perioperative course. In 5 patients, electrophysio logic studies suggested acute necrotic myopathy, and muscle biopsy spe cimens showed evidence of rhabdomyolysis in 1 patient. Outcome in surv ivors was good, all recovering completely. We conclude that neuromuscu lar complications in liver transplantation are uncommon (less than 1%) and do not significantly contribute to morbidity, Mononeuropathies ma y have iatrogenic perioperative causes, and rhabdomyolysis may be an i mportant cause of generalized muscle weakness after liver transplantat ion. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.