Potassium levels after liver reperfusion in adult patients undergoing cadaveric liver transplantation: A retrospective cohort study

Hyperkalemia is a common cause of arrhythmias in patients undergoing liver transplantation. We examined the pattern of change of potassium levels during and immediately after reperfusion of the donor liver. Potassium levels of 30 consecutive adult patients undergoing cadaveric liver transplantation were assessed before and after liver reperfusion. Changes in potassium levels over 13 predefined timepoints were analyzed. Primary aim: to describe the pattern of change of potassium levels during the reperfusion period. Correlation between changes in potassium levels during reperfusion and a-priori variables were investigated. Baseline median (IQR) potassium levels were 4.1 (3.8:4.5) mmol/L. Thirteen patients (43%) developed hyperkalemia, 10 (33%) of whom developed severe hyperkalemia. Potassium levels peaked at 80 s post reperfusion, plateaued until 2 min, before returning toward baseline values at 5 min. There was a strong association between pre-reperfusion/baseline potassium levels and peak potassium values during reperfusion (95%CI: 0.26 to 0.77, p