Storage age of transfused red blood cells during liver transplantation and its intraoperative and postoperative effects

Jun Chen, Terry Singhapricha, Masood Memarzadeh, Alyssa Ziman, Shan Yuan, Ke Qin Hu, Randolph H. Steadman, Ronald W. Busuttil, Victor W. Xia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Recent studies suggest that the storage age of red blood cells (RBCs) may be associated with morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. We studied perioperative effects of RBC storage age in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). Methods Adult patients who received ≤5 U of RBCs during OLT between January 2004 and June 2009 were studied. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the mean storage age of RBCs they received: new or old RBCs (stored ≤14 or>14 days, respectively). Effects of storage age of transfused RBCs during OLT on intraoperative potassium (K +) concentrations, incidence of hyperkalemia (K + ≥5.5 mmol/L), postoperative morbidity, and patient and graft survival were studied. Results The mean serum K + concentrations and the incidence of hyperkalemia during OLT were significantly associated with storage age of the RBCs. Logistic analysis showed that storage age of RBCs was an independent risk factor for intraoperative hyperkalemia (odds ratios 1.067-1.085, p<0.001) in addition to baseline K + concentration and units of RBCs transfused. Patient and graft survival and postoperative morbidity including postoperative ventilation, reoperation, acute renal dysfunction defined by the RIFLE criteria was not associated with old RBCs. Conclusions Transfusion of RBCs stored for a longer time was associated with intraoperative hyperkalemia but not with postoperative adverse outcomes in adult OLT. Prevention and treatment of potentially harmful hyperkalemia should be considered when old RBCs are administered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2436-2442
Number of pages7
JournalWorld Journal of Surgery
Volume36
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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