Effect of terlipressin on systemic and hepatic hemodynamics in patients undergoing liver transplantation

Background and Aims Liver transplantation is associated with hemodynamic instability. Systemic and Splanchnic circulations interact closely. Portal hypertension is linked to vasodilatory molecules resulting in arterial vasodilatation. Terlipressin, is a synthetic vasopressin analogue causes selective vasoconstriction of splanchnic arteriols, thus decreasing splanchnic blood flow and shifting blood from the splanchnic to the systemic circulation resulting in enhanced systemic hemodynamics. This study aimed to assess the impact of intraoperative terlipressin on systemic and hepatic hemodynamics in recipients of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods The present longitudinal observational study was carried out at Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplant on 30 cases suffering from portal hypertension and chronic liver disease undergoing LDLT. Subjects were equally categorized into two groups: Group 1(control): patients did not receive intraoperative terlipressin, Group 2 (terlipressin): patients received terlipressin (1 mg intravenously over 10 min) just after exposure of the portal vein to maintain mean arterial blood pressure over 65 mmHg. Results Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were better preserved in the terlipressin group, with reduced norepinephrine requirements as well as a substantial decline in the heart rate during the anhepatic and reperfusion phases (P < 0.05). Terlipressin significantly decreases portal venous pressure with (P = 0.03) and portal vein flow (P < 0.001) without altering the hepatic artery resistivity index (HARI) (P = 0.219). Conclusion Intraoperative terlipressin during liver transplantation surgery was associated with improved systemic hemodynamics despite decreased portal venous pressure and blood flow, without affecting HARI.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intraoperative terlipressin on systemic and hepatic hemodynamics in liver transplantation recipients. The results showed that terlipressin improved systemic hemodynamics, reduced portal venous pressure and flow, without affecting hepatic artery resistivity index.