Right ventricular ejection fraction during orthotopic liver transplantation: Does anesthetic technique make a difference?

Purpose The objective of this study is to evaluate the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVII) during orthotopic liver transplantation (OIT) under 2 different anesthetic regimes propofol vs isofluorine anesthesia Methods We retrospectively analyzed the hemodynamic data of 25 (n=25) patients who underwent OIT during the last year (2008) All patients were monitored with a modified pulmonary artery catheter which continuously measured the RVII Anesthetic technique consisted of either isoflurine or total intravenous anesthesia with propofol Surgical technique was similar between groups Results Ten (n = 0) patients comprised the isoflurine group (1) whereas 15 (n = 15) patients received propofol anesthesia (P) The RVII was not significantly different between groups (I vs P baseline 4P +/- 9% vs 40% = 6% anhepatic phase 30% - 8% vs 38% +.- 6% postreperfusion 41% +/- 6% vs 41% +/- 8% P - not significant) Conclusions The choice between propofol and isoflurine seems to have minimal influence on the RVII during OIT which followed similar trends regardless of the anesthetic technique (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.