Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Ringer’s Solution on Intraoperative Blood Gas Analysis and Postoperative Recovery Time in Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND: Sodium bicarbonate Ringer’s solution (BRS) is the latest generation of balanced crystal solutions. BRS does not increase the liver burden, but its impact in liver transplantation is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of BRS as a fluid therapy on intraoperative blood gas analysis and postoperative recovery time in orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) patients. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 101 patients who received classical in situ liver transplantation at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from November 2019 to January 2022. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the intraoperative fluid infusion: the BRS group and the sodium lactate Ringer’s solution group (LRS group). Intraoperative blood gas analysis, including pH, base excess (BE), bicarbonate, and lactic acid levels of radial artery blood, were collected after induction (T0), 30 min before opening (T1), 30 min after no liver period (T2), 30 min after opening (T3), and at the end of the operation (T4). Postoperative ICU catheter time, ICU stay time, and total hospitalization days were also recorded and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Lactic acid levels were decreased significantly at T3 in the BRS group (P<0.05). ICU catheter time, ICU hospitalization days, and total hospitalization days were significantly shorter in the BRS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BRS can decrease the lactic acid level at 30 min after opening, reducing the postoperative recovery time. BRS is more effective than LRS in liver transplantation.