Objectives: The increased number of liver transplants in Egypt has increased the focus on perioperative complications in live donors. An important but not yet well-investigated complication is electrolyte disturbances, which are common in such patients, need intervention, and affect the outcome. We retrospectively analyzed data of perioperative calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels in live liver donors at our center.
Materials and methods: We collected perioperative laboratory results from 44 living donors for liver transplant who were at our center from February 2009 to August 2013. We analyzed results of perioperative calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels before transplant, on the day of transplant (defined as day 0), and at 1 and 2 days after the surgical procedure.
Results: Mean serum calcium level was 2.31 mmol/L before transplant, 1.97 mmol/L on day 0, and 1.99 mmol/L on day 1, and 2.05 mmol/L on day 2 after transplant. Serum calcium level was significantly reduced at day 0 and on postoperative days 1 and 2 (P < .0001). Mean magnesium level was 0.8 mmol/L before transplant, 0.58 mmol/L on day 0, and 0.83 mmol/L on day 1, and 0.79 mmol/L on day 2 after the surgical procedure. The day 0 level was significantly reduced versus before transplant (P < .0001). Mean phosphorus level was 1.23 mmol/L before transplant, 1.11 mmol/L on day 0, and 0.97 mmol/L on day 1, and 0.76 mmol/L on day 2 after transplant, with significant declines on day 0 and on postoperative days 1 and 2 (P < .0001).
Conclusions: Living liver donors showed significantly decreased levels of calcium and phosphorus on day 0 and on postoperative days 1 and 2, whereas magnesium level was significantly decreased on day 0 only.