Anesth Pain Med.  2015 Oct;10(4):284-287. 10.17085/apm.2015.10.4.284.

Analysis of pre-operative aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in 14,185 pediatric patients

• Lee KC
• Lee SJ
• Chang YJ
• Kim YM
• Tchah H

• KMID: 2148014
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2015.10.4.284

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of routine pre-anesthetic aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests for detection of hepatic abnormalities and usefulness in perioperative management.
METHODS
The laboratory findings of 14,185 pediatric patients younger than 18 years from October 2004 to December 2010 were investigated by retrospective review of medical records. All of the patients had undergone preoperative AST and ALT screening.
RESULTS
Among the 14,185 patients, 221 patients experienced elevation of both AST and ALT. However, only 21 patients were suspicious for hepatic disease defined as persistent elevation of AST and ALT preoperatively. Among the 221 patients with elevation of both AST and ALT, 20 patients were examined by additional abdominal ultrasonography and hepatic abnormalities were detected in 13 of these patients (65%) and 40 patients were consulted to the department of pediatrics or internal medicine.
CONCLUSIONS
In this single-center, retrograde study, the usefulness of preoperative routine AST and ALT testing was shown to be limited for detection of hepatic abnormalities in pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia. Further multi-center, large-scale investigation would be required.

Keyword

Alanine aminotransferase; Aspartate aminotransferase; Pediatrics; Pre-anesthetic

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase*
Alanine*
Anesthesia, General
Aspartate Aminotransferases*
Aspartic Acid*
Humans
Internal Medicine
Mass Screening
Medical Records
Pediatrics
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography
Alanine
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Aspartic Acid