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Introduction: Liver transplant anesthesiology is an evolving and expanding subspecialty, and programs have, in the past, exhibited significant variations of practice at transplant centers across the United States. In order to explore current practice patterns, the Quality & Standards Committee from the Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia (SATA) undertook a survey of liver transplant anesthesiology program directors. Methods: Program directors were invited to participate in an online questionnaire. A total of 110 program directors were identified from the 2018 Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database. Replies were received from 65 programs (response rate of 59%). Results: Our results indicate an increase in transplant anesthesia fellowship training and advanced training in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We also find that the use of intraoperative TEE and viscoelastic testing is more common. However, there has been a reduction in the use of veno‐venous bypass, routine placement of pulmonary artery catheters and the intraoperative use of anti‐fibrinolytics when compared to prior surveys. Conclusion: The results show considerable heterogeneity in practice patterns across the country that continues to evolve. However, there appears to be a movement towards the adoption of specific structural and clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Takotsubo syndrome ( TTS), also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, has been described following a variety of surgeries and disease states. The relationship between intra-operative anesthesia management and the development of this syndrome has never been fully elucidated. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to determine the relationship of multiple intra-operative factors on the pathogenesis of TTS. Methods A single-center retrospective review of all liver transplants performed at Mayo Clinic Florida from January 2005 to December 2014. Patients developing left ventricular dilation and a concomitant decrease in ejection fraction, a negative cardiac catheterization, or stress test within 30 days of transplantation were identified. Cases were matched 2:1 to controls with respect to MELD, age, sex, and indication for transplantation. Our evaluation included liver graft characteristics, intra-operative medications, and intra-operative hemodynamic measurements. Results We identified 24 cases of TTS from a pool of 1752 transplants, for an incidence of 1.4%. No statistically significant differences in intra-operative measures between the two groups were identified (all P ≥ .08). Conclusion Our exploratory, single-center retrospective review evaluating 46 intra-operative characteristics found no association with the development of TTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]