Korean J Anesthesiol.  2008 Jun;54(6):635-639. 10.4097/kjae.2008.54.6.635.

The Change of the Serum Potassium [K+] Level with the Use of Graft Preserved UW Solution or HTK Solution before and after Reperfusion in Liver Transplantation Recipients

• Lee JR
• Lee KH
• Bae SS
• Kim TK
• Ryu CG

• KMID: 1763518
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.54.6.635

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In liver transplantation, an increase of serum potassium [K+] after reperfusion is related to components of the preservation solution. However, the histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution, which is now popularly used, has a twelve times lower [K+] as compared to the UW solution. This retrospective study was performed to compare the use of the UW solution with the HTK solution for changes in the serum [K+] during the early reperfusion period in liver transplantation recipients.
METHODS
Anesthesia medical records of 366 liver transplant patients were reviewed and patients were enrolled in one of the two groups; recipients who received a transplanted liver preserved with the UW solution (UW group), and recipients received a liver preserved with the HTK solution (HTK group). Serum [K+] changes 5 min before, 5 min after, and 20 min after reperfusion for recipients in each group were compared.
RESULTS
In the UW group, [K+] increased 5 min after reperfusion and decreased 20 min after reperfusion as compared to [K+] 5 min before reperfusion (3.93, 4.07, and 3.76 mM in 5 min before, 5 min after, and 20 min after reperfusion respectively; P < 0.001). In the HTK group, [K+] significantly decreased 5 min and 20 min after reperfusion as compared to [K+] 5 min before reperfusion (4.12, 3.79, and 3.75 mM; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
When the HTK solution was used, the serum [K+] 5 min after reperfusion decreased as compared to the [K+] before reperfusion and didn't further decrease until 20 min after reperfusion.

Keyword

liver transplantation; potassium; preservative solution; reperfusion

MeSH Terms

Adenosine
Allopurinol
Anesthesia
Glucose
Glutathione
Humans
Insulin
Liver
Liver Transplantation
Mannitol
Medical Records
Organ Preservation Solutions
Potassium
Potassium Chloride
Procaine
Raffinose
Reperfusion
Retrospective Studies
Transplants
Adenosine
Allopurinol
Glucose
Glutathione
Insulin
Mannitol
Organ Preservation Solutions
Potassium
Potassium Chloride
Procaine
Raffinose