Alternative procedure for failed reconstruction of a right replaced hepatic artery in liver transplantation

A right replaced hepatic artery (RRHA) arising from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is the most frequent variation of the hepatic arterial supply requiring backtable reconstruction. There are several widely used techniques for backtable reconstruction of the RRHA to a single conduit. If these reconstructions fail, due to technical reasons or size discrepancies, an alternative method of rearterialization is needed. We describe six cases in which an RRHA was anastomosed to the donor's gastroduodenal artery (GDA) stump utilizing a loupe magnification technique. In four cases the reconstruction was performed at the time of the backtable procedure and in two after reperfusion and failure of the original RRHA to splenic artery (SA) reconstruction. In all cases, the anastomoses remained patent. All patients had Doppler sonography and two had subsequent arteriograms that verified anastomotic patency. This method of reconstruction is more demanding technically but obviates the awkward 90-degree twist of the hepatic artery when an RRHA is anastomosed to the SA stump.