Advances in pre-transplant treatment of cirrhosis-related organ dysfunction, intraoperative patient management, and improvements in the treatment of rejection and infections have made human liver transplantation an effective and valuable option for patients with end stage liver disease. However, many important factors, related both to an increasing “marginality” of the implanted graft and unexpected perioperative complications still make immediate post-operative care challenging and the early outcome unpredictable. In recent years sicker patients with multiple comorbidities and organ dysfunction have been undergoing Liver transplantation; appropriate critical care management is required to support prompt graft recovery and prevent systemic complications. Early post-operative management is highly demanding as significant changes may occur in both the allograft and the “distant” organs. A functioning transplanted liver is almost always associated with organ system recovery, resulting in a new life for the patient. However, in the unfortunate event of graft dysfunction, the unavoidable development of multi-organ failure will require an enhanced level of critical care support and a prolonged ICU stay. Strict monitoring and sustainment of cardiorespiratory function, frequent assessment of graft performance, timely recognition of unexpected complications and the institution of prophylactic measures to prevent extrahepatic organ system dysfunction are mandatory in the immediate post-operative period. A reduced rate of complications and satisfactory outcomes have been obtained from multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts, skillful vigilance, and a thorough knowledge of pathophysiologic characteristics of the transplanted liver.

Liver transplantation (OLTx) has become a widely accepted treatment for a variety of liver diseases, such as viral and alcoholic cirrhosis, liver malignancy, acute liver failure, and many metabolic abnormalities. As a result of improvement in anesthesiological and surgical skill, organ support device adoption, advanced understanding of transplant immunology, and better critical care management of complications, liver transplanted patients survive longer. However, several major challenges such as the use of marginal donors and impaired recovery of the graft, along with a number of post-operative adverse events may negatively affect the evolution of the procedure, resulting in a limited success on an individual basis.

As patients with multiple comorbidities and organ dysfunction are undergoing OLTx, an appropriate critical care management is required to support prompt graft recovery and prevent systemic complications.

The early post-operative period is a crucial time when strict monitoring and sustainment of cardiorespiratory function, frequent assessment of allograft performance, timely recognition of unexpected complications and prompt treatment of extrahepatic organ system dysfunction are mandatory. Intensive care management of liver transplanted patients mainly centers on rapid hemodynamic stabilization, correction of coagulopathy, early weaning from mechanical ventilation, proper fluid administration, kidney function preservation, graft rejection prevention, and infection prophylaxis.

Besides relying on intrinsic hepatic cell recovery, maintenance of post-operative graft function also depends on optimization of liver hemodynamics and prevention of venous stasis. Subclinical hypovolemia, or excessive cardiac filling resulting in pulmonary edema and deterioration of gas exchange, may lead to inadequate graft perfusion and increase post-operative morbidity. Patients with cirrhosis tend to have impaired ventricular contractility in response to physiologic stress or pharmacologic stimulation. Additionally, metabolic disturbances, in the form of acidosis, hypothermia, and electrolyte disturbance can further reduce cardiac performance and lead to circulatory instability. Hemodynamic depression may also be a long-term result of the reperfusion syndrome and/or a consequence of hypocalcemia-induced citrate intoxication from massive transfusion. Other causes of post-operative hypotension are a pre-existing dilated cardiomyopathy, the potential for coronary artery disease, and an unrecognized hypovolemia from various factors, including hemorrhage, third space losses, and ongoing ascites formation. The possibility of perioperative myocardial infarction causing left ventricular dysfunction must be kept in mind in cases of refractory circulatory dysfunction. Post-operative “subclinical” pulmonary edema is not infrequent, with at least 50% of these episodes developing within the first 24 h. The rapid improvement of systemic vasodilatation, which can result in a sudden increase in the afterload, is another potential cause of excessive strain on the heart. Because of potential cardiocirculatory instability and the need to optimize cardiac output and organ perfusion, hemodynamic monitoring must be strictly carried out in the immediate post-operative period. Knowledge of the preload and afterload indexes of both right (RV) and left ventricle (LV), mean and transpulmonary pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), is useful in managing pharmacologic interventions, volume therapy, and vasoactive drug administration. A pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) equipped with a fast response thermistor capable of assessing RV ejection fraction (RVEF%) and ventricular filling through RV end diastolic volume calculation (RVEDV), and/or the PiCCO System (Pulsion Medical System, Munich, Germany) are regularly used in many institutions. The application of the transpulmonary thermodilution single indicator technique (PiCCO System) allows the determination of continuous cardiac output, based on the pulse contour method, along with estimation of preload index (intrathoracic blood volume, ITBVI) and “lung edema” index (extravascular lung water, EVLWI)[1]. Indicator dilution-derived ITBVI has been considered a sensitive indicator of cardiac preload because volume changes preferentially alter the volume in the intrathoracic compartment, which serves as the primary reservoir for the left ventricle[2]. The Stroke volume variation (SVV) and pulse pressure variation (PPV) are also continuously obtained with the transpulmonary thermodilution single indicator technique, and are considered the best parameters (dynamic parameters) in predicting fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients after various surgical procedures[3]. Hemodynamic optimization following OLTx aims at preventing inadequate cardiac filling, which results in suboptimal tissue perfusion and “distant” organ failure. Continuous monitoring of dynamic parameters of fluid responsiveness and/or assessing RV end diastolic filling and RVEF% are helpful in maintaining an adequate central blood volume. Optimizing cardiac output will avoid excessive fluid administration, thus preventing both pulmonary congestion and an unrecognized increase in the sinusoidal and hepatic vein pressures. In liver transplanted patients a vasodilated and hyperdynamic state may take days or weeks to regress to near normal levels. Moderate filling followed by vasoconstriction should effectively treat this evolving clinical condition. If hypovolemia needs to be corrected, synthetic colloids have proven to be as successful as albumin solutions[4]. Failure to increase systemic vascular resistance or reduce the level of vasoactive support indicates a poorly functioning graft. Dopamine or dobutamine are generally administered to increase the inotropic function whereas vasoconstriction can be achieved with low dose noradrenalin or terlipressin.

The intraoperative use of short-acting anesthetics and neuromuscular blocking agents in many cases allows a prompt recovery of consciousness and neuromuscular tone, which are essential for a rapid discontinuation of ventilator assistance. In some patients tracheal extubation is feasible immediately at the end of the surgical procedure, whereas others are stabilized in the ICU before discontinuing ventilation in order to ensure that liver function is satisfactory. Various clinical results suggest that an early or very early tracheal extubation (immediately in the operating room or within 3 h post-operatively) has been associated with a persistent maintenance of satisfactory gas exchange. The incidence of reintubation was not increased thereafter when compared to patients extubated later[12,13].

Mandell et al[14]. demonstrated that their protocol for early extubation and rapid transfer of liver recipients from the ICU to the surgical ward did not negatively impact on long-term outcome, as 1- and 3 year graft and patient survival were above the national average. Besides increasing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia[15], prolonged mechanical ventilation can worsen venous congestion of the liver graft. Ventilation-induced increased intrathoracic pressure may, in fact, reduce venous return from the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins[16]. However, in cases of serious preoperative encephalopathy, marked hypoxemia, severe obesity, important hemodynamic disturbance, primary graft dysfunction, and pulmonary edema, an immediate tracheal extubation is neither feasible nor recommended. Post-operative ventilatory failure from unsuccessful early extubation may be associated with impaired oxygen delivery to the newly grafted liver. Although successful in many patients, optimal selection criteria and timing for early extubation are not yet well defined by the current literature. Furthermore, it may not be possible to generalize results from the centres who recommend this strategy due to differences in preoperative clinical conditions, surgical skill and post-operative staffing resources. A difficult weaning from mechanical ventilation is very often a consequence of post-operative respiratory complications, which can be attributed to massive transfusion, pleural effusion, inadequate clearance of bronchial secretions, pneumonia, and adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the prominent complications following OLTx. Its main causes include a severe reperfusion syndrome, substantial blood loss, prolonged operation and early post-operative infections. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), a causative factor of ARDS, seem to be related to donor alloantibodies that react against granulocytes or leucocyte antigens (anti-HLA)[17]. The management and treatment of respiratory complications, including ARDS, are primarily supportive, with obligatory mechanical assistance in cases of ventilatory failure. Sometimes these patients prove difficult to wean due to unsatisfactory gas exchange during various T-piece trials. In these circumstances a rapid extubation followed by an immediate application of a non invasive ventilatory support should be considered in order to shorten and accelerate the weaning process. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) by adding a pressure support (PS) with a continuous positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), could prevent the loss of vital capacity and impede severe lung derecruitment following extubation. As opposed to the first applications in solid organ transplantation when NIV was mainly delivered by full facial mask[18], nowadays it is predominantly delivered by the helmet system. Daily experience shows that the helmet is suitable for long application of NIV. Improvements in manufacturing have led to a reduction in air leaks while guaranteeing a satisfactory delivery of high inflation pressures. The first application of NIV in solid organ transplant recipients was described by Antonelli et al[18]. They randomized patients with respiratory failure following transplantation to receive either NIV or standard therapy. Patients assigned to NIV showed a trend toward less ventilator associated pneumonia and a significant reduction of severe sepsis or septic shock episodes. If post-operative respiratory failure is severe enough to require a prolonging of mechanical ventilation, ventilatory strategies that minimize insults to both the lung and the allograft should be used. Airway pressures and PEEP should be set in order to improve oxygenation without simultaneously impairing liver outflow. In liver recipients affected by severe ARDS, low tidal volume (6 mL/kg of ideal body weight), relatively high respiratory rates and PEEP confer a survival advantage by keeping the lung open and avoiding atelectasis and shear stresses on lung units[19]. Mechanical ventilation with high PEEP has been reported to impair liver outflow. Besides determining an increased retrograde blood accumulation and liver edema, an excessive PEEP (> 10 cm/H20) may also depress the splanchnic perfusion and hepatic performance by increasing venous stasis in the portocaval system and depressing cardiac output[20]. However, Saner et al[21] demonstrated in 74 hemodynamically stable liver transplant recipients that flow velocities of the right hepatic vein, portal vein, and hepatic artery were not decreased by PEEP up to 15 cm H20. When critical hypoxemia occurs in the setting of a severe respiratory failure inhaled nitric oxide may be administered. High frequency oscillation and the prone positioning have been utilized with some positive results but have not yet been studied extensively.

Liver graft recovery mainly depends on pre-transplant clinical conditions, donor quality, perioperative stable hemodynamics, sufficient organ blood flow, and prevention of venous stasis on the graft. Donor-related factors (e.g. hepatic steatosis), use of vasoactive drugs, hemodynamic changes, surgical-related aspects along with vascular and biliary complications may lead to a highly variable performance of the allograft. Continuous monitoring of the post-transplant graft function is required to identify subtle, early findings of graft dysfunction which require aggressive management aimed at prevention of graft failure. Unfortunately, on-line monitoring of liver function at the bedside is not available. Traditionally, assessment of liver function is based on static and dynamic tests. Static tests include serum dosage of liver enzymes and bilirubin along with the monitoring of protein synthesis, mainly albumin and coagulation factors. Liver transaminases may be markedly elevated in the post-operative phase but gradually decrease over the course of several days. Enzyme levels may reflect the extent of hepatocellular necrosis (high activities of alanine aminotransferase-ALT are present in the periportal region of the liver) or cholestasis (e.g. alkaline phosphatase, or γ-glutamyl transferase). Hepatic protein synthesis is easily assessed by monitoring of factor V (half-life 4 h) and VII (half-life 5h). The dynamic tests express the ability of the liver to metabolize or eliminate defined substances. The ability to convert lidocaine to monoethylglycinxylidide metabolite (MEGX test) was used to evaluate both the hepatic metabolic capacity and liver blood flow[22]. The indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test is routinely used in some centers to quantify the functional activity of the graft in relatively short time intervals. After intravenous injection, ICG is almost exclusively eliminated by the liver into the bile and does not undergo enterohepatic recirculation. ICG removal from the blood depends on liver blood flow, parenchymal cellular function and biliary excretion. ICG elimination may be expressed as half-life time, blood clearance, or plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR). An ICG-PDR under 15%/min is associated with a higher rate of primary dysfunction. However, ICG-PDR is not exclusively a marker of cell function but also of blood flow to the liver and short-term variations in ICG-PDR probably reflect changes in blood flow rather than hepatocellular function[23].

In-depth discussion of the pharmacology of immunosuppressive medications is beyond the scope of this article, although certain issues are worth mentioning. There have been many recent advances in immunosuppressive drugs, but the most common protocols continue to consist of the calcineurin inhibitors associated with steroids. Cyclosporine achieves its effects through reversible inhibition of immunocompetent lymphocytes in the G0 and G1 phases of cell division. T-helper cells are the primary targets of the drug, although T-suppressor cells may be affected. Cyclosporine also works by inhibiting calcineurin and thereby impairing interleukin 2 (IL-2) transduction. Tacrolimus, like cyclosporine, suppresses humoral immunity through inhibition of B-lymphocyte activation. Tacrolimus also inhibits calcineurin which, in turn, results in decreased IL-2 production and dampening of T-cell recruitment and activation. In general, tacrolimus and cyclosporine are fairly similar in terms of graft and patient survival. However, O’Grady et al[24] and Kelly et al[25] demonstrated that the incidence of acute and steroid-resistant rejection was significantly lower with tacrolimus than with cyclosporine treatment. Mycophenolate mofetil has been used for years as an adjuvant immunosuppressive agent. It works by selectively inhibiting purine synthesis, and thus is a potent inhibitor of B-cell and T-cell proliferation. Mycophenolate’s major role at present is in treating acute rejection although drug is gaining an increasing role in maintenance immunosuppression. It is renal sparing and does not necessarily require drug monitoring. Corticosteroids are used routinely as part of the maintenance protocol for solid organ transplant recipients, and are the most important agents in the management of acute rejection. Sirolimus is a macrocyclic triene antibiotic which prevents T-cell proliferation by inhibiting IL-2 transduction and inducing the cell to arrest at the G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. It is increasingly being used as both primary and rescue immunosuppression, and has the advantage of being both renal sparing and reducing the need for high-dose steroids. Induction therapy, while not frequently used after OLTx, may be an effective approach. The newer IL-2 receptor-blocking antibody preparations, daclizumab (Zenapax) and basiliximab (Simulect) are common drugs for induction immunosuppression[26]. The most significant adverse effects and toxicity of the commonly used immunosuppressors are reported in Table 1. Nowadays intense investigations are directed at adopting renal sparing protocols, reducing the dose or eliminating calcineurin inhibitors, switching patients with renal dysfunction to sirolimus, and attempting abstention from corticosteroid because of their well known side-effects[27].

Infections remain problematic following OLTx, and are still the primary causes of death. Prolonged hospital stay before the transplant and the immunocompromised status predispose the recipient to colonization with resistant micro-organisms. Due to heavy immunosuppression the early post-operative period poses greater risks of infection. The source of the infecting organisms can be: a) the donor organ and transfused blood products b) the reactivation of previous infection c) invasion by exogenous micro-organisms or by endogenous flora.

Wound infections, pneumonia, peritonitis, cholangitis, urinary and catheter-related infections, Clostridium difficile colitis, and liver abscesses are similar to the hospital-acquired infections observed in other surgical patients[28]. Coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Enterococci, anaerobes, and Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are common in surgical-site infections. Pneumonia after OLTx is usually caused by Gram-negative bacilli, Enterobacter species, Serratia marcescens and methicillin-susceptible or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Enterococci are frequent pathogens, and infections with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) have become a troublesome complication[29]. Risk factors for VRE bacteremia include Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy, biliary strictures, prolonged ICU stay, and CMV infection. Treatment of bacterial infections generally involves characterization of the infective agent (e.g. cultures and antibiotic sensitivities), source control (e.g. catheter removal and debridement), and antibiotic regimens based on the hospital antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Immunosuppression must be reduced or even halted temporarily. Prophylactic post-operative antibiotics are primarily tailored to gram negative (Pseudomonas sp, Enterobacter sp. and Klebsiella sp) and gram-positive organisms (Staphylococcus aureus). Viral infections account for substantial morbidity and mortality following OLTx. Human herpes virus 1 (herpes simplex virus) reactivation is a common viral illness and requires a 10- to 14-day course of acyclovir (5-10 mg/kg q8h). CMV status (positive or negative) of the donor must be recorded in the recipient’s chart, and the CMV antibodies of the recipient must be checked in order to ascertain the need for prophylaxis. CMV infection can affect the capacity of the host to mount a defense against complicating infections. Patients with systemic CMV infections are treated with ganciclovir. The drug appears to be most effective when started early in the course of CMV infection, and may be useful for CMV hepatitis, enteritis, and pneumonia. Fungal infections usually develop as a consequence of depressed host defenses and environmental exposure. The risk of fungal infections increases when acute rejection episodes are treated with high dose of corticosteroids or antilymphocyte agents. Predisposing factors for fungal infections include preoperative renal dysfunction, fungal colonization at baseline, severity of end stage cirrhosis, retransplantation, perioperative massive transfusion, need for extracorporeal renal assistance, prolonged ICU stay, Human Herpes Virus-6, and reintubation. Both Aspergillus and Candida species can be found after OLTx. As a general rule, if Candida species grow from two or more sites, even if not from blood (eg, urine, wound), the condition should be managed as a systemic infection. The presence of Candida species in peritoneal fluid strongly suggests a bile leak or bowel perforation. Although antifungal prophylaxis has been widely studied, no consensus exists on which patients should receive it. The presence of the above risk factors likely indicates the need for antifungal prophylaxis. Many centers target prophylaxis mostly toward Candida spp. with fluconazole, 400 mg daily. Low-doses of a lipid formulation of amphotericin B (1-3 mg/kg per day) or echinocandins are also recommended. Echinocandins are preferred in many institutions due to their lack of significant drug interaction with the immunosuppressive agents and the favorable safety profile. If Aspergillus is a target pathogen, based on local epidemiology, either caspofungin or lipid formulations of amphotericin B should be used for prophylaxis. Caspofungin, 70 mg load on day 1 followed by 50 mg/d has been associated with a successful treatment outcome[30]. Serious infectious diseases complicating the post-transplant course are associated with poor graft recovery, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and a high risk of multi-organ failure. Septic shock early after OLTx is difficult to manage since it is almost always unresponsive to conventional “aggressive” therapy. As underlined in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines[31] multiple associated interventions have proven beneficial in improving the outcome of severe infections. Adjuvant therapies, such as IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulins (Pentaglobin^®), have been recommended in association with full combination treatment to sustain the failing organs in cases of severe sepsis.

The administration of recombinant human activated protein C (drotrecogin alfa, Xigris^®, Eli Lilly Indianapolis Ind), an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic drug, has also been proposed for management of life-threatening sepsis in liver transplant patients[32].

The measurement of procalcitonin may add some useful clinical information on potential ongoing bacterial infection. Zazula et al[33] demonstrated that procalcitonin levels increase transiently for about 24 h after OLTx and thereafter rapidly decrease if no bacterial infection is present. However, the variations of procalcitonin level are highly dependent on the type of immunomodulatory therapy the patient is receiving. Polyclonal antithymocyte globulin (ATG) administration was, in fact, associated with an increase in serum procalcitonin even in the absence of any evidence of infection. According to the authors, measurements of procalcitonin may lead to conflicting interpretation in some circumstances as some immunosuppressors or adjuvants may be a significant stimulus for the synthesis of this biomarker.

Patients with end-stage liver disease frequently have abnormalities of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism. Concentrations of plasma aromatic amino acids (AAA: phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan) as well as methionine increase, while plasma branched-chain amino acid levels (BCAA: valine, leucine, isoleucine) decrease. Preoperative malnutrition has been associated with an increased risk of post-operative infections, respiratory complications and a prolonged stay in the ICU[34]. Factors such as stress from surgery, the release of catabolic hormones, and corticosteroid administration, enhance the need for nutritional support after transplantation.

Energy requirements are only moderately elevated in the early period of uncomplicated OLTx. For this reason, some authors recommend that the caloric intake, determined by using the formulation provided by the Harris-Benedict equation, should be provided at approximately 120%-130% of the calculated basal energy expenditure (BEE)[35]. As nitrogen loss is raised as a consequence of increased protein catabolism, liver transplant patients during the acute post-transplant phase should receive 1.5 to 2.0 g of protein per kilogram of dry weight[35]. The potential persistence of post-operative encephalopathy does not require a reduction of protein content in the diet but only a change of amino acid composition in favour of BCCA-enriched formulae[36]. Early post-operative nasoenteric tube feeding is preferred over total parenteral nutrition (TPN) unless a patient has a nonfunctional gastrointestinal tract or requires complete bowel rest. Although gastric and colonic ileus may be present following transplantation, early enteral nutrition is usually tolerated[37]. Tube feeding results in decreased metabolic response to stress, fewer technical and metabolic problems, and enhanced visceral protein synthesis[38]. Hasse et al[39] demonstrated that early enteral feeding prior to oral diet initiation was associated with significantly greater cumulative 12-day calorie and protein intakes than controls. In addition, results showed decreased rates of viral and bacterial infections and fewer infected patients in the tube-fed group than in the control group.

Patients should be encouraged to start oral diets as soon as feasible although tube feeding should not be discontinued until patients are able to maintain an oral intake adequate to their nutrition requirements (at least 80% of normal nutritional need). Electrolyte disturbances in the acute post-transplant period should be monitored closely and properly replaced if needed.

Despite substantial technological, medical and surgical advances, OLTx remains a complex procedure that is accompanied by significant morbidity. Frequent complications on both the graft and the organ systems arise because of multiple, and sometimes unavoidable adverse events. The most common complications of the early post-operative course are briefly described in the following paragraphs, and some others are outlined in Table 2.

OLTx has become an effective and valuable option for patients with end stage liver disease. However, the ICU morbility associated with some unpredictable factors such as a difficult intraoperative course, delayed post-operative hemodynamic recovery, “marginality” of the implanted graft, and “distant” organ dysfunction is still substantial. A better understanding and management of immunosuppressive therapy along with a more effective post-operative care have improved the outcome even in recipients with very advances stages of liver failure. Various reports have demonstrated that the transplantation of sicker patients has not been associated with a reduction in post-OLTx graft and patient survival[68,69].

Through prevention, recognition, and prompt treatment of life-threatening events, liver transplant recipients may experience fewer post-operative complications, shorter length of ICU stay, and a better overall outcome.