Jeron Zerillo

Association between anesthesiologist experience and mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation

The anesthesiologist has been recognized as an integral member of the liver transplant team, and previous studies have demonstrated that inter‐anesthesiologist variability can be a driver of outcomes for high‐risk patients. We hypothesized that anesthesiologist experience, defined as the number of previous liver transplants performed at our institution, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, would be independently associated with outcomes for liver transplant patients. Eight hundred forty‐nine liver transplants performed between January 2003 and January 2013 with a total of 22 anesthesiologists were analyzed. Each transplant was assigned an incremental case number that corresponded to the number of transplants that the attending anesthesiologist had already performed at our institution. Several perioperative covariates were controlled for in the context of a generalized linear mixed effects model to detail the influence of threshold levels of the incremental case number on the primary outcome, 30‐day mortality, and a secondary outcome, 30‐day graft failure. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to confirm the robustness of these findings. An incremental case number ≤ 5 was associated with a significantly greater risk of 30‐day mortality (odds ratio = 2.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.11‐4.54, P = 0.025), and there was evidence suggestive of a greater risk of 30‐day graft failure (odds ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval = 0.95‐3.93, P = 0.071). Sensitivity analyses ruled out threats to the validity of these findings, including dropout effects and time trends in the overall performance of the transplantation unit. In conclusion, this study shows that an anesthesiologists level of experience has a significant effect on outcomes for liver transplant recipients, with increased mortality and possibly graft failure during a providers first 5 cases. These findings may indicate the need for increased training and supervision for anesthesiologists joining the liver transplant team. Liver Transpl 21:89‐95, 2015.

Use, Training, and Opinions About Effectiveness of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Adult Liver Transplantation Among Anesthesiologists in the United States

Study Objective. Describe transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) use, preparatory training and opinions about clinical importance, and future training pathways in a sample of liver transplant anesthesiologists. Design. Online survey questionnaire. Setting. Liver Transplant Centers in the United States. Participants. Director of Liver Transplant Anesthesia or designated alternate respondent. Results. A total of 79 Directors or alternates from 111 (71%) centers were identified. There were 56 responses (71%) representing 433 transplant anesthesiologists who cared for 63.3% of liver transplant cases performed in 2015. Basic TEE certification was reported more frequently (64%) than advanced (53.6%). At least one team member used TEE in over 90% of responding centers. Most respondents (83.9%) agreed TEE provided unique and valuable clinical information but were equally divided about future training pathways (on the job learning vs basic TEE certification). Conclusion. TEE use in liver transplantation is growing with a substantial increase in basic TEE certified users. Transplant anesthesiologists support basic certification but an equal number believe there should be more applied training at the site of care.

Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI) and Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO) in Liver Transplantation: A Case Report and Focused Review

Liver transplantation (LT) is a complex procedure in a patient with multi-organ system dysfunction and coagulation defects. The surgical procedure involves dissection, major vessel manipulation, and pathophysiologic effects of graft storage and reperfusion. As a result, LT frequently involves significant hemorrhage. Subsequent massive transfusion carries high risk of transfusion-associated complications. Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) are the leading causes of transfusion associated mortality. In this case report and focused review, we present data that suggest that patients undergoing liver transplantation may be at higher risk for TRALI and TACO than the general population. Anesthesiologists can play a role in decreasing these risks by increasing recognition and reporting of TRALI and TACO, using point of care testing with thromboelastography to guide and decrease transfusion, and considering alternatives to traditional blood products like solvent/detergent plasma.

The Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia (SATA)

Anesthesiologists were pioneers in the field of organ transplantation. The rapid growth of the field of transplantation would have been impossible without important innovations in intraoperative patient care by anesthesiologists (1). A landmark event recognizing the importance of transplant anesthesiologists was the incorporation of guidelines by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Network for Organ Sharing defining qualifications for the Director of Liver Transplant Anesthesia in 2011. This change was designed to promote responsibility and accountability in the field of liver transplant anesthesia. As Mandell et al noted, the true significance of the guidelines was to highlight the contribution of transplant anesthetic care to patient outcome. In 2011, members of the anesthesia community who cared for transplant patients created an informal society allowing participants to share information and ideas designed to improve donor and recipient care. The intent of this society was to harness the enthusiasm and motivation of transplant anesthesiologists to drive innovation in the fields of abdominal and thoracic transplantation and intensive care. The society membership articulated 3 guiding principles: to provide a common meeting ground for scientific development, to increase anesthesia presence in related collegial transplant societies and organizations, and to advocate for the professional interests of transplant anesthesiologists. The Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia (SATA) was legally incorporated in 2016 to solidify a home base for transplant anesthesiologists. SATA endorses the concept that integrating the anesthesiologist into all aspects of transplant patient care and policy development ultimately benefits the best interests of the patients. To advance this mission, the editors of Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia have provided a scholarly forum for all transplant anesthesiologists, and Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia will serve as the official home journal for SATA. We thank the Editors-in Chief, Drs Nathaen Weitzel and Miklos D. Kertai, for this opportunity. We anticipate the home journal will be a vital link helping focus and develop the specialty of transplant anesthesia.

Serious Gaming for Orthotopic Liver Transplant Anesthesiology: A Randomized Control Trial

Anesthetic management of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is complex. Given the unequal distributions of liver transplant surgeries performed at different centers, anesthesiology providers receive relatively uneven OLT training and exposure. One well‐suited modality for OLT training is the “serious game,” an interactive application created for the purpose of imparting knowledge or skills, while leveraging the self‐motivating elements of video games. We therefore developed a serious game designed to teach best practices for the anesthetic management of a standard OLT and determined if the game would improve resident performance in a simulated OLT. Forty‐four residents on the liver transplant rotation were randomized to either the gaming group (GG) or the control group (CG) prior to their introductory simulation. Both groups were given access to the same educational materials and literature during their rotation, but the GG also had access to the OLT Trainer. Performance on the simulations were recorded on a standardized grading rubric. Both groups experienced an increase in score relative to baseline that was statistically significant at every stage. The improvements in scores were greater for the GG participants than the CG participants. Overall score improvement between the GG and CG (mean [standard deviation]) was statistically significant (GG, 7.95 [3.65]; CG, 4.8 [4.48]; P = 0.02), as were scores for preoperative assessment (GG, 2.67 [2.09]; CG, 1.17 [1.43]; P = 0.01) and anhepatic phase (GG, 1.62 [1.01]; CG, 0.75 [1.28]; P = 0.02). Of the residents with game access, 81% were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the game overall. In conclusion, adding a serious game to an existing educational curriculum for liver transplant anesthesia resulted in significant learning gains for rotating anesthesia residents. The intervention was straightforward to implement and cost‐effective. Liver Transplantation 23 430–439 2017 AASLD.

Postoperative Meld-lactate and Isolated Lactate Values As Outcome Predictors Following Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

ABSTRACT The Model for End Stage Liver (MELD) score is validated to predict pretransplant mortality. However, as a predictor of postoperative outcomes, its utility has proven inconsistent. Recently developed MELD-Lactate models better predict 30-day survival as compared with the MELD and MELD-Sodium scores. We compared the MELD-Lactate, original MELD, and MELD-Sodium formulae and the initial postoperative lactate as predictors of 30-day and in-hospital mortality following liver transplantation. Adult patients (n = 989) undergoing orthotopic liver transplant between 2002 to 2013 were included. In addition to the previous models, the first postoperative lactate value and a newly derived Mount Sinai MELD-Lactate score and associated c-statistics were compared. The Mount Sinai MELD-Lactate model yielded the highest c-statistic value (0.749), followed by the original MELD-Lactate (0.740), initial lactate value (0.729), postoperative MELD (0.653), and MELD-Sodium (0.641) models in predicting survival at 30 days following liver transplantation. For in-hospital mortality, the original MELD-Lactate model had slightly higher c-statistic (0.739) compared with the Mount Sinai MELD-Lactate model (0.734). Despite the distribution differences in the MELD-Lactate models, the model validation results, both from cross-validation and bootstrap methods, were similar. Postoperative MELD-Lactate and isolated postoperative lactate values were moderately predictive of 30-day and in-hospital mortality following liver transplantation in this patient cohort.

Anesthetic Management of a Patient With Tracheal Dehiscence Post–Tracheal Resection Surgery

We present a case of a patient with complete tracheal dehiscence and multiple false passages after recent tracheal resection and anastomosis. Loss of tracheal continuity after disruption of anastomosis with distal stump retraction presents a unique anesthetic challenge given lack of access to the trachea and the need for adequate anesthesia and analgesia for surgical neck dissection. Traditional airway management, including awake fiberoptic intubation, intubation via direct laryngoscopy, needle cricothyrotomy, and awake tracheostomy are not viable options. Using total intravenous anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation, surgeons dissected the neck, retrieved the distal tracheal stump, repaired the trachea, and formalized the tracheostomy. We highlight the importance of recognizing the symptoms of a tracheal rupture, understanding the extreme limitation of securing the airway with traditional techniques, and discuss the alternative techniques including use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to avoid airway management. Awareness of increased mortality risk with tracheal reoperation and the significance of close communication between the anesthesiologists, the surgeons, and the patient is necessary for successful management.

Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia: Liver Transplant Anesthesia Fellowship—White Paper Advocating Measurable Proficiency in Transplant Specialties Training:

The anesthesia community has openly debated if the care of transplant patients was generalist or specialist care ever since the publication of an opinion paper in 1999 recommended subspecialty training in the field of liver transplantation anesthesia. In the past decade, liver transplant anesthesia has become more complex with a sicker patient population and evolving evidence-based practices. Transplant training is currently not required for accreditation or certification in anesthesiology, and not all anesthesia residency programs are associated with transplant centers. Yet there is evidence that patient outcome is affected by the experience of the anesthesiologist with liver transplants as part of a multidisciplinary care team. Requests for a formal review of the inequities in training opportunities and requirements led the Society for the Advancement for Transplant Anesthesia (SATA) to begin the task of developing post-graduate fellowship training recommendations. In this article, members of the SATA Working Group on Transplant Anesthesia Education present their reasoning for specialized education and conclusions about which pathways can better prepare trainees to care for complex transplant patients.

Anesthetic Management for Intestinal Transplantation: a Decade of Experience

Intestinal transplantation (ITx) is the definitive therapy for patients suffering from intestinal failure. Previously published reports suggest that these cases should be managed perioperatively with the same intensive monitors and techniques as in liver transplantation.

Prolonged Intraoperative Cardiac Resuscitation Complicated by Intracardiac Thrombus in a Patient Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

We report the case of successful resuscitation after prolonged cardiac arrest during orthotopic liver transplantation. After reperfusion, the patient developed ventricular tachycardia, complicated by intracardiac clot formation and massive hemorrhage. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated stunned and nonfunctioning right and left ventricles, with developing intracardiac clots. Treatment with heparin, massive transfusion and prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation ensued for 51 minutes. Serial arterial blood gases demonstrated adequate oxygenation and ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Cardiothoracic surgery was consulted for potential use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, however, the myocardial function improved and the surgery was completed without further intervention. On postoperative day 6, the patient was extubated without neurologic or cardiac impairment. The patient continues to do well 2 years posttransplant, able to perform independent daily activities of living and his previous job. This case underscores the potential for positive outcomes with profoundly prolonged, effective advanced cardiovascular life support in patients who experience postreperfusion syndrome.