Restrictive Fluid Management In Liver Transplantation (REFIL)

Effects of an Intraoperative Low-splanchnic Blood Volume Restrictive Fluid Management Strategy Compared to a Cardiac Output Optimized Liberal Fluid Management Strategy on Postoperative Outcomes in Liver Transplantation: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (REFIL-2)

The goal of the REFIL-2 study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a low splanchnic blood volume restrictive fluid management strategy (a strategy that involves limiting fluid administration and prioritizing the use of medications that raise blood pressure during surgery, combined with phlebotomy) in improving patients' recovery after surgery. The study compares the low splanchnic blood volume restrictive fluid management strategy to an optimized cardiac-output liberal fluid management strategy (which involves administering more fluids to raise blood pressure with less reliance on medications). Outcomes important to patients will be measured.

This study (REFIL-2) had a vanguard phase (internal pilot) that included 138 patients (NCT05647733). The patients included in the vanguard pilot phase were not compared between groups but only analyzed descriptively using aggregated data. Only feasibility metrics were compared (see NCT05647733). These 138 patients were thus rolled into the REFIL-2 trial and included in the final sample size reported herein.

People with advanced liver disease have poor blood circulation, and too much blood accumulates in the abdomen (a condition known as high intra-abdominal blood volume). However, liver transplantation (LT) is a complex surgery during which the patient can lose a significant amount of blood and blood pressure can fluctuate widely. Therefore, restricting fluids and using medications to raise blood pressure is a strategy that could reduce blood loss and potentially also certain complications after surgery. Furthermore, phlebotomy appears to reduce intra-abdominal blood volume, blood loss, drops in blood pressure, and the need for red blood cell transfusions, potentially improving recovery after surgery. This study therefore aims to determine the best way to manage fluids during a liver transplantation by comparing these two care strategies. Another goal of the study is to measure the cost-effectiveness of the proposed intervention.

Hypothesis: An intraoperative low splanchnic blood volume restrictive fluid management strategy is superior to an optimized cardiac-output liberal fluid management strategy in reducing postoperative severe complications after liver transplantation

Design: Multicenter blinded parallel arm randomized controlled trial

Study population: Adult patients undergoing a liver transplantation for end-stage liver disease (ESLD)

All participants will be followed during their index hospitalization up to post-transplantation Day 30 (whichever comes first), and for 12 months post-transplantation to assess some clinical outcomes, quality of life (QoL), and survival (being alive beyond the index hospitalization).

Participation in this study lasts 12 months.

The results of this study will help determine whether or not to recommend a low splanchnic blood volume restrictive fluid management strategy for people who undergo a liver transplantation.

This study is conducted in two phases: a pilot phase, which demonstrated feasibility across Canada, followed by the current larger-scale phase (REFIL-2).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult ≥ 18 years old
2. Undergoing liver transplantation (LT)
3. End-stage liver disease (ESLD) (with or without hepatocellular carcinoma) as the indication for transplantation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Undergoing LT for an indication other than ESLD (e.g., acute liver failure, primary liver cancer without ESLD, retransplantation, amyloid neuropathy, polycystic liver disease, or any other indication not associated with ESLD)

2. Undergoing combined solid organ transplantations

3. Any of the following conditions:

   • severe chronic renal failure (GFR < 15 ml/minute/1.73 m2 [CKD-EPI equation] or already on renal replacement therapy (RRT))
   • severe anemia (hemoglobin level < 80 g/L)
   • hemodynamic instability (norepinephrine equivalent > 10 ug/min)

4. Physician refusal to enroll the patient.