Effect Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Adult Liver Transplant

Launched by LONDON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OR LAWSON RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ST. JOSEPH'S · Aug 14, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether inhaled nitric oxide—a gas that helps relax blood vessels—can reduce complications during liver transplant surgery. When a new liver is transplanted, restoring blood flow to the organ can sometimes cause damage called ischemia-reperfusion injury, which may lead to serious problems like very low blood pressure and poor organ function. This study aims to see if giving nitric oxide during surgery can lower the chances or severity of these issues, helping patients recover better after their transplant.

Adults aged 18 and older who are having their first liver transplant may be eligible to join the study. The research includes looking back at past cases from January 2020 to May 2025, as well as enrolling new patients who will receive inhaled nitric oxide during their surgery. People with certain conditions, like high blood pressure in the lungs, repeat liver transplants, or combined organ transplants, cannot participate. If you take part, doctors will monitor how well your liver and blood pressure respond during and after the surgery to see if the treatment helps reduce complications. This study has not started enrolling patients yet.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years)
• • Undergoing or underwent (for the retrospective "before" group) primary orthotopic liver transplantation. Retrospective data collection for retrospective group will take place between January 1, 2020 - May 31, 2025.
• • Written informed consent obtained for patients in the prospective ("after") group
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of pulmonary arterial hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mmHg)
• • Re-transplantation
• • Acute fulminant hepatitis
• • Combined organ transplantation (e.g., liver-kidney)
• • Lack of complete data for propensity matching - Inability to communicate in the English language