Is impaired hepatic arterial buffer response a risk factor for biliary anastomotic stricture in liver transplant recipients?
BACKGROUND
Blood flow to the liver is partly maintained by the hepatic arterial buffer response (HABR), which is an intrinsic autoregulatory mechanism. Temporary clamping of the portal vein (PV) results in augmentation in hepatic artery flow (augHAF). Portal hyperperfusion impairs HAF due to the HABR in liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the HABR on biliary anastomotic stricture (BAS).


METHODS
In 234 cadaveric whole LTs, PV flow (PVF), basal HAF, and augHAF were measured intra-operatively after allograft implantation. All recipients with a vascular complication were excluded. Buffer capacity (BC) was calculated as (augHAF - basal HAF)/PVF to quantify the HABR. Recipients were divided into 2 groups based on their BC: low BC (<0.074; n = 117) or high BC (> or =0.074; n = 117).


RESULTS
Of the 234 recipients, 23 (9.8%) had early BAS (< or =60 days after LT) and 18 (7.7%) had late BAS (>60 days after LT). The incidence of late BAS and bile leakage was similar between the groups; however, the incidence of early BAS in the low BC group was greater than that in the high BC group (15% vs 5.1%; P = .0168). In the multivariate analysis, low BC (P = .0325) and bile leakage (P = .0002) were found to be independent risk factors affecting early BAS.


CONCLUSIONS
Recipients with low BC who may have impaired HABR are at greater risk of early BAS after LT. Intraoperative measurements of blood flow help predict the risk of BAS.
Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Transplant Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. hashimk@ccf.org
Koji
K
Hashimoto
Charles M
CM
Miller
Cristiano
C
Quintini
Federico N
FN
Aucejo
Kenzo
K
Hirose
Teresa Diago
TD
Uso
Loris
L
Trenti
Dympna M
DM
Kelly
Charles G
CG
Winans
David P
DP
Vogt
Bijan
B
Eghtesad
John J
JJ
Fung
D000328:Adult; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002102:Cadaver; D002302:Cardiac Output; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors