Bicarbonate ringer's solution could improve the intraoperative acid-base equilibrium and reduce hepatocellular enzyme levels after deceased donor liver transplantation: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Bicarbonate Ringer's (BR) solution is a direct liver and kidney metabolism-independent HCO3 - buffering system. We hypothesized that BR solution would be more effective in improving acid-base equilibrium and more conducive to better liver function than Acetate Ringer's (AR) solution in conventional orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients.

METHODS: Sixty-nine adult patients underwent OLT. Patients in the bicarbonate and acetate groups received BR solution or AR solution as infused crystalloids and graft washing solution, respectively. The primary outcome was the effect on pH and base excess (BE) levels. The secondary outcome measures were the incidence and volume of intraoperative 5% sodium bicarbonate infusion and laboratory indicates of liver and kidney function.

RESULTS: The pH and absolute BE values changed significantly during the anhepatic phase and immediately after transplanted liver reperfusion in the bicarbonate group compared with the acetate group (all P < 0.05). The incidence and volume of 5% sodium bicarbonate infusion were lower in the bicarbonate group than in the acetate group (all P < 0.05). The aspartate transaminase (AST) level at 7 postoperative days and the creatine level at 30 postoperative days were significantly higher in the acetate group than in the bicarbonate group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Compared with AR solution, BR solution was associated with improved intraoperative acid-base balance and potentially protected early postoperative liver graft function and reduced late-postoperative renal injury.