Postoperative pulmonary complications are not uncommon after liver transplantation. They can
not only prolong the stay in intensive care unit and in hospital but also increase the
morbidity and mortality rate. The underlying mechanisms are multifactorial, however,
oxidative stress following hepatic ischemia reperfusion and the ensuing pulmonary leukocyte
infiltration play an important part in the pulmonary complications. Various drugs and methods
such as ischemic preconditioning have been used to lessen the production of oxidative free
radicals following hepatic ischemia reperfusion. The choice of different anesthetic agents
could aslo change the degree of production of oxygen species and antioxidant capacity during
the operation.
Volatile and intravenous anesthetic agents can decrease oxidative injuries through different
mechanisms, however, which is better in preventing the pulmonary leukocyte infiltration is
still unknown.
We attempt the compare the oxidative stress and cytokine level in liver transplant recipients
under desflurane or propofol anesthesia to evaluate which kind of anesthetic agent is better
in this kind of surgery.