Common and serious complications of liver transplantation surgery include renal failure, haemorrhage and blood transfusion. These complications prolong post-operative recovery, increase the risk of liver graft failure, mortality and the need for long-term renal dialysis.~The drug octreotide is a synthetic analogue of somatostatin with comparable physiological effects and a good side-effect profile. Existing evidence in liver transplantation supports octreotide efficacy in improving renal function, reducing bleeding and enhancing blood pressure. However, there is no robust randomised controlled trial evidence for octreotide in liver transplantation and limited safety data regarding its use in this setting.~This is a multi centre, prospective double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of octreotide infusion during liver transplantation. The patients will be randomised in a 2:1 ratio to either octreotide or placebo groups. Stratified randomisation of patients is by donation type (DCD vs. DBD).~Patients will be randomised in the anaesthetic room and study medication given as an initial bolus of 5ml (100mcg octreotide or saline) prior to surgical incision and then continued throughout surgery at 5ml/hr (100mcg/hour octreotide or saline).
The purpose of the study is to determine whether an octreotide infusion during liver transplantation improves renal outcomes, intraoperative blood pressure and reduces haemorrhage and transfusion requirement.