The utility of pulmonary function testing in predicting outcomes following liver transplantation

A new study on Liver Transplantation Journal focuses on the utility of Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) in predicting post liver transplant (LT) mortality and morbidity outcomes.

While PFT is routinely performed in patients during the pre-LT evaluation, their utility in post-LT. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of obstructive and/or restrictive lung disease on post liver transplant outcomes.

After testing 415 LT recipients, the results showed that "PFT parameters (DLCO, total lung capacity, residual volume) were all significant predictors of ventilator time and both ICU and hospital LOS (p<0.05)".

The study concludes that "while pre-LT PFT parameters may not predict post-LT mortality, restrictive abnormalities correlate with prolonged post-LT ventilation and LOS. Efforts to identify and minimize the impact of restrictive abnormalities on PFT might improve such outcomes".

The article details are the following:

- Title: "The utility of pulmonary function testing in predicting outcomes following liver transplantation"
- Authors: Kia L, Cuttica MJ, Yang A, Donnan EN, Whitsett M, Singhvi A, Lemmer A, Levitsky J - Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Published in:Liver Transpl. 2016 Mar 1

The scientific article can be purchased at the following link: click here