Laparoscopic Hepatectomy for a Modified Right Graft in Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Background

We performed a modified right hepatectomy completely by laparoscopic techniques preserving the middle hepatic vein (MHV) branches in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Patients and Methods

Two young women (24 and 25 years old) volunteered to be live donors for their parents who had hepatocellular carcinomas. As the donors expressed concerns about scarring, we performed a laparoscopic procedure using a hand port device. Mobilization of the right liver and the hepatic parenchymal transection were performed under pneumoperitoneum. Parenchymal transection was performed using a laparoscopic ultrasonic aspirator without the Pringle maneuver. During parenchymal transection, major MHV branches >5 mm were preserved using Hem-o-lock clips. The graft was extracted through the hand port site. On the back table, the 3 MHV branches were reconstructed using an artificial vascular graft. The livers were transplanted without complications.

Results

The operative times for the donors were 765 and 898 minutes. The donors did not require transfusions or reoperation; they were discharged on postoperative days 10 and 14 with normal liver functions.

Conclusion

A hepatectomy performed completely by laparoscopic techniques for a right graft with preservation of the MHV branches was technically feasible.