title: Hepatopulmonary syndrome: use of extracorporeal life support for life-threatening hypoxia following liver transplantation.
abstract: Hepatopulmonary syndrome is an uncommon complication of nonacute liver failure, and in rare cases, hypoxia may be the presenting sign of liver dysfunction. The condition, once thought to be a contraindication, is improved in most cases by transplantation. There is a significant risk of postoperative, hypoxia-related morbidity and mortality in patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome. We present a case of life-threatening hypoxia following liver transplantation for liver failure and associated hepatopulmonary syndrome, with successful management using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
authors.affiliation: Monroe Carell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 37232-9075, USA. geoffrey.fleming@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Timothy T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.forename: Theodore H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Welling
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: Gail M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Annich
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male