From the Research
Liver Transplant Donor with Hypokalemia
- The provided studies do not directly address whether a liver transplant donor with hypokalemia can be taken up for surgery 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, the studies suggest that hyperkalemia is a common cause of arrhythmias in patients undergoing liver transplantation, and hypokalemia is not typically considered a contraindication for surgery 1, 2.
- One study found that hypokalemia was the predominant disturbance in pediatric liver transplantation, occurring in 72.0% of patients, and was more common during the postreperfusion period than the prereperfusion period 5.
- Another study found that recipient serum potassium concentration is an independent predictor of death after liver transplantation, with higher potassium levels associated with increased mortality 4.
- The studies do not provide clear guidance on the management of hypokalemia in liver transplant donors, but suggest that maintaining normokalemia is important to avoid potential complications related to hypokalemia 5.
Key Findings
- Hyperkalemia is a common cause of arrhythmias in patients undergoing liver transplantation 1, 2.
- Hypokalemia is not typically considered a contraindication for surgery, but can be a common disturbance in pediatric liver transplantation 5.
- Recipient serum potassium concentration is an independent predictor of death after liver transplantation, with higher potassium levels associated with increased mortality 4.
- Maintaining normokalemia is important to avoid potential complications related to hypokalemia 5.
Donor Considerations
- The studies do not provide clear guidance on the management of hypokalemia in liver transplant donors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, the findings suggest that hypokalemia may not be a significant concern for liver transplant donors, and that other factors such as hyperkalemia and recipient serum potassium concentration may be more important considerations 1, 2, 4.