Therapeutic Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen in Hepatic Artery Thrombosis and Functional Cholestasis After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 1913 - 1917
• Main Authors: Castro e Silva, O., Sankarankutty, A.K., Martinelli, A.L.C., Souza, F.F., Teixeira, A.C., Feres, O., Mente, E.D., Oliveira, G.R., Akita, R., Muglia, V., Elias, J., Ramalho, L.N.Z., Zucoloto, S.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Bilirubin - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Hepatic Artery; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation - methods; Infant; Liver Transplantation - adverse effects; Male; Medical sciences; Postoperative Complications - therapy; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Thrombosis - etiology; Thrombosis - therapy; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Treatment Outcome; Hepatic artery; Digestive system; Liver; Hyperbaric oxygen; Cardiovascular disease; Biliary tract disease; Homotransplantation; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Medicine; Orthotopic transplantation; Treatment; Surgery; Cholostasis; Digestive diseases; Graft; Artery thrombosis
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2006.06.062

Among the postoperative complications, hepatic artery thrombosis can occur in up to 10% of adult orthotopic liver transplants and intervention is indicated when this occurs within 30 days by retransplantation. Primary graft dysfunction, which can occur in up to 30% of the cases and is another potential complication, although reversible, has a relatively high mortality rate. Hyperbaric therapy, an efficient mode of tissue oxygenation, is being used in an increasing number of clinical situations. We report here two cases where hyperbaric oxygen therapy greatly benefited patients with complications after orthotopic liver transplantation: one with hepatic artery thrombosis and the other with primary graft dysfunction. Both patients showed rapid clinical recovery with gradual reduction of liver and canalicular enzymes soon after commencing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.