Background: Neuromuscular dysfunction complicating orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has rarely been described. We report three cases of severe acute motor deficit after OLT in a context of graft dysfunction.
Method: From December 1999 to December 2000, the muscle strength of all patients who underwent OLT in our hospital was checked during their stay in the intensive care unit. Patients having a severe motor deficit underwent electrophysiological examination within 2 weeks after the onset of deficit.
Results: Three patients developed acute quadriplegia concomitant with early allograft failure in a series of 30 patients. In these three patients, electrophysiological signs of sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy were found. No sepsis was observed; hepatic failure, together with acute renal insufficiency in two cases, was the only risk factor identified for critical illness neuropathy.
Conclusion: The physicians who take charge of patients after OLT must be aware of the possible occurrence of severe polyneuropathy in case of early allograft dysfunction.