BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The revascularization of the graft remains as a crucial instant of the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) surgical procedure. About a third of the recipients suffer the postreperfusion syndrome (PRS), a combination of hypothermia, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular instability potentially leading to cardiac arrest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the speed-quality (SQR) of the graft`s reperfusion as an independent predictor of PRS. METHODS: All eligible patients receiving an OLT in our institution from 1987 to march 2009 were included. The adjusted OR for SQR-PRS association was obtained by means of logistic regression modeling including eight potential confounders. RESULTS: The proportion of recipients suffering PRS was highest when the SQR was identified as good (75.8%) compared to those with middle or poor SQR; the relative risk comparing good SQR with poor SQR was 12.9 (CI 95%: 2.1-528.8). The adjusted OR was 132.9 (95% CI: 10.5-1688.6) when comparing good with bad SQR and 90.9 (95% CI: 13.8-645.2) when comparing good with intermediate SQR. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, SQR can be considered an unambiguous predictor of PRS.
SURGERY, Transplantation; RISK FACTORS; REPERFUSION
