Ventilatory support and hospital stay after liver transplant in cirrhotic patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To compare mechanical ventilation time, need for non-invasive ventilation, length of intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay after liver transplant in cirrhotic patients with and with no diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study with a convenience sample of 178 patients (92 with hepatopulmonary syndrome) who were diagnosed as alcoholic or hepatitis C virus cirrhosis. The statistical analysis included Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Students t test. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0, and p values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Out of 178 patients, 90 underwent transplant (48 with no hepatopulmonary syndrome). The Group diagnosed with Hepatopulmonary Syndrome had longer mechanical ventilation time (19.5±4.3 hours versus 12.5±3.3 hours; p=0.02), an increased need for non-invasive ventilation (12 versus 2; p=0.01), longer intensive care unit stay (6.7±2.1 days versus 4.6±1.5 days; p=0.02) and longer hospital stay (24.1±4.3 days versus 20.2±3.9 days; p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Cirrhotic patients Group diagnosed with Hepatopulmonary Syndrome had higher mechanical ventilation time, more need of non-invasive ventilation, as well as longer intensive care unit and hospital stay.