Value of non-invasive ventilation modalities in hepatopulmonary syndrome after orthotopic liver transplantation: A case report
Nahit Cakar, Figen Esen, Ozkan Akinci, Aysen Yavru, Sabahattin Kaymakoglu, Koray Acarli, Lutfi Telci

A report is presented on a 53-year-old female cirrhotic patient with  hepatopulmonary syndrome.  The patient had severe hypoxemia (PaO₂  45 mm Hg in room air) at the operating table in the pre-operative period but response to FiO₂ = 1 was good (PaO₂ = 465 mm Hg with FiO₂= 1).  After orthotopic liver transplantation there was a deterioration  in oxygenation which was mainly managed with non-invasive ventilatory modalities and by the improvement in liver function. The patient’s gas exchange parameters returned to normal 6 months after transplantation.

Keywords: Hepatopulmonary syndrome, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, liver transplantation

Applied Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology 9: 323-325, 2000

Nahit Cakar, M.D.
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
Istanbul Medical Faculty
34390 Capa, Istanbul
Turkey
E-mail: ncakar@hotmail.com