Table 1.
Recipients’ and transplant procedures’ characteristics. Data are presented as mean ± SD and median (min-max) for normally distributed and skewed quantitative variables respectively; and number of patients (%) for nominal variables.
| Characteristics | L-carnitine group (N = 33) | Placebo group (N = 39) | P Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (y) | 48.21 ± 12.61 | 48.54 ± 13.24 | 0.821 |
| Sex (male) | 19 (57.6) | 25 (64.1) | 0.571 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 24.97 ± 4.72 | 24.55 ± 3.91 | 0.683 |
| Model for end-stage liver disease score | 16.00 (10-35) | 17.00 (6-39) | 0.583 |
| Model for end-stage liver disease-Na score | 22.00 (15-38) | 23.00 (11-39) | 0.843 |
| Serum albumin (g/dL) | 3.16 ± 0.61 | 3.06 ± 0.62 | 0.501 |
| Comorbidity | 0.874 | ||
| No comorbidity | 18 (54.5) | 24 (61.5) | |
| Diabetes mellitus | 8 (24.2) | 7 (18.1) | |
| Cardiovascular disease | 2 (6) | 2 (5.2) | |
| Kidney diseases | 7 (21.2) | 10 (25.7) | |
| Underlying disease leaded to cirrhosis | 0.246 | ||
| Autoimmune hepatitis | 2 (6.1) | 9 (23.1) | |
| Viral hepatitis | 7 (21.2) | 9 (23.1) | |
| Wilson’s disease | 3 (9.1) | 1 (2.6) | |
| Primary sclerosing cholangitis | 4 (12.1) | 2 (5.1) | |
| Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis | 13 (39.4) | 11 (28.2) | |
| Others | 4 (12.1) | 7 (17.9) | |
| Cirrhosis complications | 1.000 | ||
| History of variceal bleeding | 18 (54.5) | 20 (51.3) | 0.782 |
| History of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis | 2 (6.1) | 17 (43.6) | < 0.001 |
| History of encephalopathy | 28 (84.8) | 30 (76.9) | 0.397 |
| History of hepatorenal syndrome | 5 (6.9) | 10 (13.9) | 0.275 |
| History of paracentesis | 20 (60.6) | 24 (61.5) | 0.936 |
| Hemodynamic parameters during transplant surgery | |||
| Central venous pressure (mmHg) | 9.60 ± 2.24 | 9.30 ± 2.57 | 0.530 |
| Mean arterial pressure (mmHg) | 79.79 ± 8.87 | 77.70 ± 6.42 | 0.25 |
| Systemic vascular resistance index (dyn.sec/cm5/m2) | 1374 (683-3518) | 1538 (693-2395) | 0.619 |
| Cardiac index (L/min/m2) | 4.53 (1.90-11.40) | 4.39 (2.01-8.77) | 0.651 |
| Use of vasoactive agents during surgery | 23 (69.7) | 30 (76.9) | 0.488 |
| Surgery duration (min) | 291.06 ± 50.4 | 289.2 ± 47.4 | 0.872 |
| Patients needed blood products during surgery | 28 (84.8) | 38 (97.4) | 0.087 |
| Fibrinogen dose during surgery (g) | 3.38 ± 2.06 | 3.71 ± 1.87 | 0.746 |
| Packed cell during surgery (units) | 2.00 (1-4) | 2.00 (1-9) | 0.617 |
| Administered albumin during surgery (g) | 27.50 (0.00-30.00) | 30 (0.00-40) | 0.033 |
| Crystalloid solutions during surgery (L) | 3.50 (2.50-5.00) | 4 (1.50-6) | 0.208 |
| Length of ICU stay after transplant (days) | 3.00 (1.00-7.00) | 3 (1-17) | 0.324 |
| Length of hospital stay after transplant(days) | 10 (1-28) | 8 (2-32) | 0.121 |
| Mechanical ventilation duration after transplant (h) | 10.20 (5.00-24.00) | 12.00 (8.50-192.00) | 0.006 |