Intraoperative High Tidal Volume Ventilation and Postoperative Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Liver Transplant

Background: Mechanical ventilation plays an important role in perioperative management and patient outcomes. Although mechanical ventilation with high tidal volume (HTV) is injurious in patients in the intensive care unit, the effects of HTV ventilation in patients undergoing liver transplant (LT) has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine if intraoperative HTV ventilation was associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: Patients undergoing LT between 2013 and 2018 at a tertiary medical center were reviewed. The tidal volume was recorded at 3 time points: after anesthesia induction, before liver reperfusion, and at the end of surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups: HTV (>10 mL/kg predicted body weight [pBW]) and non-HTV (≤10 mL/kg pBW). The 2 groups were compared. Independent risk factors were identified by multivariable logistic models. Results: Of 780 LT patients, 85 (10.9%) received HTV ventilation. Female sex and greater difference between actual body weight and pBW were independent risk factors for HTV ventilation. Patients who received HTV ventilation had a significantly higher incidence of ARDS (10.3% vs 3.9%; P = .01) than those who received non-HTV ventilation. Conclusions: In this retrospective study, we showed that HTV ventilation during LT was common and was associated with a higher incidence of ARDS. Therefore, tidal volume should be carefully selected during LT surgery. More studies using a prospective randomized controlled design are needed.