Methylene Blue Used as a Bridge to Liver Transplantation Postoperative Recovery: A Case Report

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 601 - 604
• Main Authors: Roma, J, Balbi, E, Pacheco-Moreira, L, Gonzalez, A.C, Leal, C.G, Pousa, F, Zynger, I, Leite, D, Halpern, M, Guerra, P.P, Covelo, M, Carius, L, Agoglia, L, Oliveira, A, Enne, Marcelo
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01-03-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Enzyme Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Hepatitis, Autoimmune - surgery; Hepatopulmonary Syndrome; Humans; Hypoxia - prevention & control; Liver Cirrhosis - etiology; Liver Transplantation - physiology; Liver, biliary tract, pancreas, portal circulation, spleen; Medical sciences; Methylene Blue - therapeutic use; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Human; Postoperative; Digestive system; Liver; Use; Homotransplantation; Recovery; Methylene blue; Case study; Medicine; Bridges; Treatment; Surgery; Graft; Liver transplantation
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2010.01.003

Abstract Hepatopulmonary syndrome is defined as a triad of liver disease, arterial hypoxemia, and intrapulmonary vascular dilatation. The clinical hallmark of this disorder is the impairment of pulmonary gas exchange, not necessarily correlated with the severity of the underlying liver disease. Liver transplantation (OLT) is the only definitive treatment for this syndrome. However, patients with preoperative partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2 ) under 50 mm Hg are exposed to an unacceptably high postoperative mortality and morbidity. Herein we have described a case of a 15-year-old female patient who underwent OLT and was treated with methylene blue in the early postoperative period to improve hypoxemia. We suggest that the use of methylene blue after liver transplantation can decrease postoperative complications and mortality rates in these patients.