2021 Clinical Update in Liver Transplantation.

In 2021, the United States performed 9,236 liver transplantations, an increase of 3.7% from 2020. As the specialty of transplant anesthesiologist continues to grow, so does the body of evidence-based research to improve patient care.

2020 Clinical Update in Liver Transplantation.

The gold standard treatment of end-stage liver disease continues to be liver transplantation (LT). The challenges of LT require skilled anesthesiologists to anticipate physiologic changes associated with end-stage liver disease and surgical considerations that affect multiple organ systems. While on the waiting list, patients may be placed on new anticoagulation medications that can confound already complex coagulopathy in LT patients.

2019 Clinical Update in Liver Transplantation.

Liver transplantation continues be the standard for treatment of end-stage liver disease, and even with recent advances in organ preservation, the anesthetic management continues to require understanding of multiple organ systems beyond the liver. Multiple factors contribute to hemodynamic changes after reperfusion of the liver graft that anesthesiologists should be aware of before unclamping. Concomitant renal dysfunction in end-stage liver disease is not uncommon, and preparation for continuous renal replacement therapy may need to be considered in certain cases.

Taranabant, a novel cannabinoid type 1 receptor inverse agonist.

Merck & Co Inc is developing the cannabinoid receptor type 1 inverse agonist taranabant for the potential treatment of obesity and nicotine dependence. By October 2006, the drug had entered phase III trials for obesity, and by May 2008, a phase II study of taranabant as an aid to smoking cessation in chronic cigarette smokers had been completed.

Rimonabant--a selective CB1 antagonist.

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of rimonabant, a new selective cannabinoid receptor antagonist.

Data Sources: Primary literature and review articles were obtained via a MEDLINE search (1966-November 2004) using the key terms obesity, smoking cessation, cannabinoid, rimonabant, SR 141716, and SR 141716a. Additional studies and abstracts were identified from the bibliographies of reviewed literature.

Effects of extended feeding of decocainized erythroxylon coca leaves on growth and selected organs in rats and rabbits.

Erythroxylon coca leaves from the Trujillo area of Peru were extracted with methylene chloride to remove most cocaine-like alkaloids. The decocainized leaves were formulated in a honey-water vehicle and fed on a chronic basis to female rats for 32 weeks and female rabbits for 13 weeks. Rabbits fed decocainized leaves at doses of 21 or 210 mg demonstrated no significant change in growth (weight gain) when compared with those receiving vehicle.

The effect of radial keratotomy in the rupture strength of pig eyes.

Freshly enucleated pig eyes are significantly weakened following radial keratotomy surgery and are more susceptible to rupture under lateral or axial compression than their unoperated fellow eyes. Patients should be cautioned to restrict hazardous activity in the post-operative period to prevent disastrous globe rupture.