MODES OF REPERFUSION IN CLINICAL LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

A retrospective analysis of 60 orthotopic liver transplantations was p erformed to elucidate the effect of three types of rinse solutions (Ri nger's solution, modified Carolina rinse, and autologous blood) and tw o types of revascularization (simultaneous vs sequential portal and ar terial reperfusion) on various parameters of early postoperative graft function. The only statistically significant association revealed by multivariate analysis was a positive correlation between donor age and SGOT/SGPT peak levels postoperatively. In this limited sample no bene ficial properties of Carolina rinse and/or simultaneous arterializatio n were verified. Despite modifications of reperfusion, there were 2 ca ses of primary nonfunctioning graft. However, these cases were associa ted with elderly donors, prolonged cold storage and, in 1 case, marked steatosis. Large-scale prospective trials are required to verify or d isprove experimental data on the use of varying modes of reperfusion.