Background: We determined the alterations of nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen free radicals during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in healthy pigs and investigated their relationship to pulmonary hemodynamics.
Materials and methods: Fourteen pigs served as donors and recipients for 7 OLT, under general anesthesia. Hemodynamic monitoring included: systemic and mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac output, cardiac index, pulmonary (PVR) and systemic vascular resistance. Serum NO concentration and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which indirectly quantifies the oxygen free radicals in the serum were determined by spectroscopic method of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, before laparotomy, before reperfusion, 30 and 60 min postreperfusion.
Results: PVR increased significantly during the anhepatic phase and remained at high levels at 30 and 60 min postreperfusion (P = 0.046). NO concentration decreased significantly until 60 min postreperfusion (P = 0.009). TAC decreased throughout the whole period of our measurements (P = 0.002). A significant positive correlation was found between NO concentration, TAC, and PVR (P = 0.026 and P < 0.01, respectively, Spearman correlation).
Conclusions: Our study showed a significant correlation between increased PVR, reduced NO concentration, and increased serum oxygen free radicals levels in the early reperfusion period in healthy pigs undergoing OLT.