title: Liver transplantation in patients with severe portopulmonary hypertension treated with preoperative chronic intravenous epoprostenol.
abstract: Portopulmonary hypertension (PPHTN) is no longer an absolute contraindication to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The pre-OLT management of patients with PPHTN requires early diagnosis and chronic therapy with intravenous epoprostenol to decrease pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Close follow-up is necessary to reassess pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) and evaluate right ventricular (RV) function. This assists in the optimal timing of OLT. Successful management also necessitates reassessment of pulmonary artery hemodynamics just before OLT, with clearly defined parameters used to determine whether to proceed. Even with the intraoperative and postoperative availability of potent pulmonary vasodilators, clinical management may be suboptimal in reducing PAP. Adequate reduction in PVR and improvement in RV function in response to chronic epoprostenol therapy may facilitate successful OLT. We present a case report and review the limited experience with this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Transplant Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, USA. henkietan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Merritt
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Thuluvath
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Poordad
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Maley
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Gaine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000601:surgery*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000601:surgery*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011464:Epoprostenol