Introduction: Plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (PDR-ICG) has been used to assess early detection of graft dysfunction and complications after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, there are few data regarding the value of PDR-ICG measured by a noninvasive technique to predict early complications and graft outcome after OLT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of PDR-ICG measurement in predicting early complications and graft outcome after OLT.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 18 patients who underwent OLT from June 2012 to April 2013 at our center. PDR-ICG was measured within the first 24 hours following OLT with a digital sensor after patients were injected with 0.5 mg/kg indocyanine green. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables of liver transplant recipients were collected. Postoperative complications were defined as primary nonfunction of the graft, acute cellular rejection, arterial/portal complications, hemorrhagic shock and death within 30 days.

Results: The mean age at transplantation was 20.3 ± 22.3 yrs (55.6% female) and mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 27.7 ± 7.1. Early postoperative complications of 18 patients included 1 death and 5 patients were classified as having grade 2 dysfunction after OLT. The PDR-ICG in patients with grade 2 dysfunction was significantly lower than in patients with grade 1 dysfunction (22.9 ± 8.9 vs 36.9 ± 9.4%/min, p=0.01).

Conclusions: Lower values of PDR-ICG measured in the early postoperative period after orthotopic liver transplantation may help as a diagnostic tool for graft dysfunction.