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Incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmias during pulmonary artery catheterization in liver allograft recipients
Author(s) -
Gwak Mi Sook,
Kim Jie Ae,
Kim Gaab Soo,
Choi Soo Joo,
Ahn Hyun,
Lee Jeong Jin,
Lee Sang,
Kim Myung
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.21300
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , ventricular tachycardia , pulmonary artery , ventricular fibrillation , liver transplantation , ventricle , cardiac catheterization , transplantation
Liver allograft recipients may develop a hyperdynamic circulation and cardiac electrophysiologic abnormalities. The incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmias in liver allograft recipients during pulmonary artery (PA) catheterization was determined. One hundred five liver allograft recipients were studied prospectively; 5 of the patients with preexisting valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease, or arrhythmias were excluded. Severe ventricular arrhythmia, defined as 3 or more consecutive ventricular premature beats occurring at a rate of >100 per minute, was observed in 37.0% of the patients during insertion of the catheter and in 25.0% of the patients during removal of the catheter. Two patients developed ventricular tachycardia, and 2 developed ventricular fibrillation; the arrhythmias in these 4 patients did not respond to appropriate pharmacological treatment but resolved promptly after removal of the PA catheter. The catheter transit time from the right ventricle to the pulmonary capillary wedge position was longer in patients with severe ventricular arrhythmia than in those without this arrhythmia (91.6 ± 103.6 s versus 53.3 ± 18.4 s, P < 0.05). In conclusion, patients undergoing liver transplantation have a high risk of developing a ventricular arrhythmia during PA catheterization. Liver Transpl 13:1451–1454. 2007. © 2007 AASLD.