Sodium bicarbonate infusion in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation: A single center randomized controlled pilot trial

Abstract

Background: Liver transplantation-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) carries significant morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that sodium bicarbonate would reduce the incidence and/or severity of liver transplantation-associated AKI. Methods: In this double-blinded pilot RCT, adult patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation were randomized to an infusion of either 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (0.5 mEq/kg/h for the first hour; 0.15 mEq/kg/ h until completion of surgery); (n = 30) or 0.9% sodium chloride (n = 30). Primary outcome: AKI within the first 48 h post-operatively. Results: There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups with regard to baseline charac..