Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Living-Liver Donors: A Retrospective Analysis of 188 Patients

Abstract

Objectives: Living-donor liver transplant has become a viable option and an important source of hepatic grafts. The goal of this study is to establish postoperative pulmonary complications of liver donation surgery in our center.

Materials and Methods: Data from 188 subjects (median age, 33.7 +/- 8.4 y; male/female, 51.1%/48.9%) who had liver donation surgery from 1988 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Patient demographic and clinical features were recorded. Postoperative complications and the correlation of risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications were investigated.

Results: The incidence of early postoperative complications was 17% (n = 32), and 16 of these patients had postoperative pulmonary complications (8.5%); 2 of the postoperative pulmonary complications were detected on the day of surgery and the other 14 complications were observed between the second and seventh day after surgery. Most postoperative pulmonary complications were minor complications including atelectasis, pleural effusion, and pneumonia. There was 1 major postoperative pulmonary complication: pulmonary embolism that occurred on the fourth day after surgery in 1 patient. Late pulmonary complications also were reviewed and no late postoperative pulmonary complications were observed. There was no significant difference in early and late postoperative pulmonary complications between ex-smokers and smokers. Postoperative atelectasis was significantly higher in patients with body mass index <= 20 kg/m(2) than patients with body mass index > 21 kg/m(2) (P = .027). In our study population, no postoperative mortality was recorded.

Conclusions: We believe that preoperative weight reduction strategies and early mobilization with postoperative respiratory physiotherapy could be important factors to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications in liver donors.