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Introduction: Postoperative pain management after orthotopic liver transplantation is complex due to impaired liver function and frequent acute kidney dysfunction. Subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block may be of interest in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of subcostal TAP block on opioid consumption after liver transplantation., Methods: We conducted a before-and-after single center study. During the first period, we included patients whom did not receive an analgesic TAP block. During the second period, we included those with bilateral ultrasound-guided subcostal TAP block (20 mL ropivacaïne 0.2% each side). Patients requiring sedation within 48 hours of surgery as well as patients with combined liver and kidney transplants or skin-only closures were excluded. The primary outcome was cumulative oral morphine consumption within 48 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain scores and TAP block-related complications., Results: A total of 132 patients were included in the non-TAP block group and 78 patients in the TAP block group. The median oral morphine equivalent consumption (IQR) within 48 hours following surgery was 74 mg (39; 112) for the non-TAP block group and 50 mg (20; 80) for the TAP block group (p<0.001). There was no difference in pain scores between the two groups. No complications related to the TAP block were reported., Conclusion: Subcostal TAP block appears to have a small opioid reducing effect after orthotopic liver transplantation surgery., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

This prospective observational study was designed to analyze platelet functions across time in 50 patients scheduled for liver transplantation (LT) secondary to decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Platelet functions were assessed before LT (pre-LT), one week (D7) and 1 month (D28) after LT. Platelet count significantly increased from pre-LT time to day 28 as well as circulating CD34+hematopoietic stem cells. To avoid any influence of platelet count on assays, platelet function was evaluated on platelet-rich-plasma adjusted to pre-LT platelet count. Although platelet secretion potential did not differ between time-points, as evaluated by the expression of CD62P upon strong activation, platelet aggregation in response to various agonists significantly increased along time, however with no concomitant increase of circulating markers of platelet activation: platelet microvesicles, platelet-leukocyte complexes, soluble CD40L and soluble CD62P. In the multivariate analysis, hepatic function was associated with platelet count and function. A lower platelet aggregation recovery was correlated with Child C score. History of thrombosis or bleeding was associated with respective higher or lower values of platelet aggregation. This longitudinal analysis of platelet functions in LT patients showed an improvement of platelet functions along time together with platelet count increase, with no evidence of platelet hyperactivation at any time-point., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objectives: Nebulized colistimethate sodium (CMS) can be used to treat ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by MDR bacteria. The influence of the diluent volume of CMS on aerosol delivery has never been studied. The main objectives of the study were to compare aerosol particle characteristics and plasma and urine pharmacokinetics between two diluent volumes in patients treated with nebulized CMS., Methods: A crossover study was conducted in eight patients receiving nebulized CMS every 8 h. After inclusion, nebulization started with 4 million international units (MIU) of CMS diluted either in 6 mL (experimental dilution) or in 12 mL (recommended dilution) of normal saline in a random order. For each diluent volume, CMS aerosol particle sizes were measured and plasma and urine samples were collected every 2 h. Nebulization time and stability of colistin in normal saline were assessed., Results: The mass median aerodynamic diameters were 1.4 ± 0.2 versus 0.9 ± 0.2 μm (P < 0.001) for 6 and 12 mL diluent volumes, respectively. The plasma area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 8 h (AUC0-8) of colistinA+B was 6.6 (4.3-17.0) versus 6.7 (3.6-14.0) μg·h/mL (P = 0.461) for each dilution. The total amount of colistin and CMS eliminated in the urine represented, respectively, 17% and 13% of the CMS initially placed in the nebulizer chamber for 6 and 12 mL diluent volumes (P = 0.4). Nebulization time was shorter [66 (58-75) versus 93 (69-136) min, P = 0.042] and colistin stability was better with the 6 mL diluent volume., Conclusions: Nebulization with a higher concentration of CMS in saline (4 MIU in 6 mL) decreases nebulization time and improves colistin stability without changing plasma and urine pharmacokinetics or aerosol particle characteristics for lung deposition.

Background: Patients undergoing major vascular surgery often develop postoperative pneumonia that impacts their outcomes. Conflicting data exist concerning the potential benefit of tapered-shaped cuffs on tracheal sealing. The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of a polyvinyl chloride tapered-cuff endotracheal tube at reducing the postoperative pneumonia rate after major vascular surgery. Secondary objectives were to determine its impact on microaspiration, ventilator-associated pneumonia rate, and inner cuff pressure., Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study included 109 patients who were randomly assigned to receive either spherical- (standard cuff) or taper-shaped (tapered cuff) endotracheal tubes inserted after anesthesia induction and then admitted to the intensive care unit after major vascular surgery. Cuff pressure was continuously recorded over 5 h. Pepsin and α-amylase concentrations in tracheal aspirates were quantified on postoperative days 1 and 2. The primary outcome was the early postoperative pneumonia frequency., Results: Comparing the tapered-cuff with standard-cuff group, respectively, postoperative pneumonia rates were comparable (42 vs. 44%, P = 0.87) and the percentage (interquartile range) of cuff-pressure time with overinflation was significantly higher (16.1% [1.5 to 50] vs. 0.6% [0 to 8.3], P = 0.01), with a 2.5-fold higher coefficient of variation (20.2 [10.6 to 29.4] vs. 7.6 [6.2 to 10.2], P < 0.001). Although microaspiration frequencies were high, they did not differ between groups., Conclusion: For major vascular surgery patients, polyvinyl chloride tapered-cuff endotracheal tubes with intermittent cuff-pressure control did not lower the early postoperative pneumonia frequency and did not prevent microaspiration.

Background & Aims: Many patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis also have diabetes, obesity, or insulin resistance-mediated steatosis, but little is known about how these disorders affect the severity of liver disease. We analyzed the prevalence and prognostic implications of metabolic risk factors (MRFs) such as overweight, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis awaiting liver transplants., Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 110 patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis (77% male; mean age, 55 y; 71% with >6 mo of abstinence) who received liver transplants at a single center in Paris, France, from 2000 through 2013. We collected data on previous exposure to MRFs, steatosis (>10% in the explant), and histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)., Results: HCC was detected in explants from 29 patients (26%). Steatosis was detected in explants from 47 patients (70% were abstinent for ≥6 mo); 50% had a history of overweight or type 2 diabetes. Fifty-two patients (47%) had a history of MRFs and therefore were at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A higher proportion of patients with MRF had HCC than those without MRF (46% vs 9%; P < .001). A previous history of overweight or type 2 diabetes significantly increased the risk for HCC (odds ratio, 6.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.47-15.76, and odds ratio, 4.63; 95% CI, 1.87-11.47, respectively; P < .001). MRF, but not steatosis, was associated with the development of HCC (odds ratio, 11.76; 95% CI, 2.60-53; P = .001) independent of age, sex, amount of alcohol intake, or severity of liver disease., Conclusions: Patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis who received transplants frequently also had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. MRFs, particularly overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, significantly increase the risk of HCC., (Copyright © 2015 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)