Artificial vascular graft for inferior vena cava reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation: a case report

Artificial grafts are not recommended because of the high incidence of thrombogenic effects. However, in some situations, such as emergency or when no vascular bank is available, an artificial graft must be used. We present a case in which a polytetrafluoroethyline graft was used as a conduit to reconstruct the retrohepatic vena cava severed during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). A 48-year-old woman had end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis for 5 years received a right lobe liver graft from her son. The retrohepatic vena cava was divided and ligated in several sequences. The upper end of the severed retrohepatic vena cava retracted into the liver parenchyma. The lower end of the severed vena cava was distended, with multiple stitches. A 16-mm artificial graft was used as a conduit to replace the inferin vena cava for outflow reconstruction. The patient tolerated the complicated procedure well. No anticoagulant was used throughout the entire course. The patient has been well with excellent liver function after follow-up for more than 5 years. Magnetic resonance imaging and Doppler ultrasonographic studies showed good patency of the cava with no evidence of thrombosis. We suggest use of an artificial graft in living donor liver transplantation, in particular in urgent situations when autologous or allogeneic vessels are not available.     

Living donor liver transplantation in the absence of inferior vena cava: a case report

Because of difficulties in the supply of cadaveric organs, of living donor liver transplantations are performed in increasing numbers. Congenital hepatic fibrosis associated with fibrosis and atrophy of the inferior vena cava were present in a potential recipient of living donor liver transplantation. This case report documented living donor liver transplantation as a treatment modality for a patient with absence of the inferior vena cava due to chronic liver failure.     

Impact of graft hepatic vein inferior vena cava reconstruction with graft venoplasty and inferior vena cava cavoplasty in living donor adult liver transplantation using a left lobe graft

BACKGROUND: Hepatic venous reconstruction is critical in living donor adult liver transplantation (LDALT) because outflow obstruction in small for size graft may lead to graft dysfunction or loss. We describe the usefulness of venoplasties of the graft hepatic vein (HV) and graft HV-recipient inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction in LDALT using a left lobe graft. METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent LDALT were studied. We divided the patients into following two groups: venoplasty group (n=30) and control group (n=30). For the patients with venoplasty group, venoplasty of the graft and recipient IVC cavoplasty was made to widen the orifice. Comparison examination of a background factors and postoperative bilirubin and the ascites was carried out. RESULTS: The mean graft volume standard liver volume ratio (GV/SLV) did not have the difference at 41.7% of venoplasty group, and 42.1% of control group (p=NS). The diameter of the hepatic vein in control and venoplasty group before and after venoplasty is 26.9+/-5.5, 28.2+/-2.9, and 34.1+/-3.9 mm, respectively. The diameter of the hepatic vein after venoplasty is larger than that of before venoplasty and of control (P<0.05). Mean total bilirubin level on postoperative day (POD) 7 is 13.8+/-9.3 mg/dl in control group and 7.0+/-3.3 mg/dl in venoplasty group (P<0.05). Mean amount of ascites on POD 7 and 14 are 1576+/-1113 and 1397+/-1661 cc in control group, and 736+/-416 and 550+/-385 cc in venoplasty group, respectively (P<0.05). Two-year survival rate is 75.2 % in control group and 86.6 % in venoplasty group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in LDALT using left lobe graft, HV-IVC reconstruction with graft venoplasty and IVC cavoplasty is useful not only to prevent outflow block but also to improve graft function.     

Living donor liver transplantation with replacement of vena cava for Echinococcus alveolaris: A case report

INTRODUCTION

There is no medical treatment for alveolar echinococceal disease (AED) of liver till now. Curative surgical resection is optimal treatment but in most advanced cases curative resection can’t be done. Liver transplantation is accepted treatment option for advanced AED. AED in some case invade surrounding tissue especially inferior vena cava (IVC). Advanced AED with invasion to IVC can be treated with deceased liver transplantation. Although living donor liver transplantation is very difficult to perform in patients with advanced AED with resected IVC, it come into consideration, since there is very few cadaveric liver.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

Here we present a case with advanced stage of AED of liver which cause portal hypertension and cholestasis. AED invaded surrounding tissue, right diaphragm, both lobes of liver and retrohepatic part of IVC. Invasion of IVC forced us to make resection of IVC and reconstruction with cryopreserved venous graft to reestablish blood flow. After that a living donor liver transplantation was done.

DISCUSSION

Curative surgery is the first-choice option in all operable patients with AED of liver. Advanced stage of AED like chronic jaundice, liver abscess, sepsis, repeated attacks of cholangitis, portal hypertension, and Budd-Chiari syndrome may be an indication for liver transplantation. In some advanced stage AED during transplantation replacement of retrohepatic part of IVC could be done with artificial vascular graft, cadaveric aortic and caval vein graft.

CONCLUSION

Although living donor liver transplantation with replacement of IVC is a very difficult operation, it should be considered in the management of advanced AED of liver with IVC invasion because of the rarity of deceased liver.     

Supradiaphragmatic approach for Budd-Chiari syndrome with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt stent in combination with inferior vena cava reconstruction during living donor liver transplantation: a case report

Treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome consists of medical management, surgical shunt, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and liver transplantation. Liver transplantation is indicated only when other treatments have failed. A 36-year-old Japanese man underwent living-donor liver transplantation after radiologic intervention procedures. Because of the position of the TIPS stent and the damaged vascular lesion of Budd-Chiari syndrome, a supradiaphragmatic approach was employed to achieve a safe total hepatectomy. Moreover, after resection of damaged portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC), an artificial vascular graft was utilized to fill the IVC gap. The postoperative course was uneventful; no serious complications were experienced within 2 years after liver transplantation. This supradiaphragmatic IVC approach and IVC reconstruction technique emphasized the option of surgical techniques to decrease the operative risk during liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome.     

Splenic artery steal syndrome in living donor liver transplantation: a case report

Splenic artery steal syndrome (SASS) has only recently been recognized as a potential threat to transplanted livers. We report a case of SASS with progressive liver dysfunction that developed after living donor right lobe liver transplantation. SASS suspected by serial pre- and postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scans was diagnosed by celiac trunk angiography. It was successfully salvaged by splenic artery embolization. In this case, serial examinations of CT scans were useful to diagnose SASS. This case showed that portal hyperperfusion injury is a cause of liver graft dysfunction in SASS. The splenic artery embolization technique is a safe procedure that can be applied to treat such injury.     

Living donor liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome with inferior vena cava obstruction and associated antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

BACKGROUND: Recently, the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) has been recognized as the cause of the Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) in adults. However, APLS-induced BCS has been seen rarely in children. The surgical strategy for BCS depends on the patency of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and on the primary disease. METHODS: A 10-year-old boy with a diagnosis of BCS complicated with IVC obstruction caused by APLS received medical treatment and radiologic intervention for 2 years. In spite of these treatments, no relief of the symptoms could be achieved. Finally, the patient underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), which required cavoplasty. He has had an uneventful course since the LDLT. CONCLUSIONS: IVC-obstructed BCS associated with APLS seems to be a good indication for LDLT with cavoplasty. Because liver transplantation (LT) itself is not a cure for APLS, the risk of thrombosis cannot be eliminated entirely by LT. Although immunosuppression may influence antiphospholipid antibody production, long-term observation and life-long anticoagulant treatment is needed even after LT. J Pediatr Surg 36:659-662.     

门静脉-下腔静脉吻合术预防活体肝移植术后小肝综合征3例报道

目的探讨门静脉-下腔静脉吻合术用于预防活体肝移植术后小肝综合征(small-for-size liver syndrome,SFSS)的效果。方法 3例活体肝移植均采用不含肝中静脉的右半肝作为移植物。术中发现实测移植物(肝)重量/受体的体质量(体重)的比值(graft to recipient weight ratio,GRWR)为0.58%、0.77%及0.71%,均<0.8%,符合小移植物的诊断。处理:首先吻合肝静脉流出道,其次吻合门静脉,将受体门静脉右支与移植肝门静脉右支端端吻合,将受体门静脉左支与下腔静脉行端侧吻合达到门腔分流的作用,之后按顺序吻合动脉和胆道。术中均未行脾静脉结扎或脾切除等处理。术后定期随访。结果 3例患者术后均未发生SFSS并顺利出院,出院时间分别为术后25d、34d及56d。移植肝功能逐步好转,术后1d门静脉流速理想。移植肝增长良好。门静脉-下腔静脉短路通畅时间:除1例通畅持续仅104d,其余2例持续通畅。结论 LDLT术中进行门静脉-下腔静脉吻合术可以及时有效预防小移植物背景下的SFSS,受体门静脉左支与下腔静脉行端侧吻合的分流技术安全可靠。     

Small graft for living donor liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of graft size on recipients in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to establish a clinical guideline for the minimum requirement. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Although the minimum graft size required for LDLT has been reported to be 30% to 40% of graft volume (GV)/standard liver volume (SLV), the safety limit of the graft size was unknown. METHODS: A total of 33 cases of LDLT, excluding auxiliary transplantation, were reviewed with a minimum observation period of 4 months. The 33 patients were divided into three groups according to GV/SLV: medium-size graft group, small-size graft group, and extra-small graft group. The effect of GV/SLV on graft function, graft regeneration, and survival was evaluated. RESULTS: The overall patient survival rate was 94% at a mean follow-up of 15 months with a minimum observation period of 4 months. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative bilirubin clearance, alanine aminotransferase, prothrombin time, and frequency of postoperative complications among the three groups. One week after transplantation, the regeneration rate (GV at 1 week/harvested GV) in the extra-small and small groups was significantly higher than that of the medium group. The graft and patient survival rates were both 100% in the extra-small group, 75% and 88% in the small group, and 90% and 95% in the medium group. CONCLUSIONS: Small-for-size grafts less than 30% of SLV can be used with careful intraoperative and postoperative management until the grafts regenerate.     

Replacement of the retrohepatic vena cava in segmental liver transplantation

Reduced grafts represent an important technical development in paediatric liver transplantation. The use of a left lateral segment graft has required preservation of the native inferior vena cava to “piggy-back” the graft onto it. We report four children who underwent left lateral segment transplantation with caval replacement using the donor iliac vein because the native retrohepatic inferior vena cava was small, friable or difficult to preserve. There were no caval or hepatic vein complications post-transplant and the donor iliac vein proved to be a satisfactory interpositional graft. The technique offers the advantages of a wider retrohepatic cava avoiding venous outflow or caval obstruction, provides good tissue to suture and is well suited for the triangulation technique of the left hepatic vein. Received: 24 January 1997 Received after revision: 20 June 1997 Accepted: 30 June 1997     

Veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome associated with potential antibody-mediated rejection after pediatric living donor liver transplantation: a case report

A 9-month-old girl with biliary atresia underwent successful living donor liver transplantation from her 42-year-old ABO blood-type incompatible mother. The postoperative course was uneventful until postoperative day (POD) 13 when the recipient displayed an increased volume of drained ascites and decreased her platelet count showing low-velocity portal venous inflow without hepatic venous outflow obstruction. We suspected potential veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (vod/sos) due to an acute cellular rejection (ACR) episode and performed a liver biopsy (LB). We diagnosed severe episode (Rejection Activity Index Score; P3V3B1 = 7) and started steroid pulse therapy. We performed a second LB on POD 27 because the patient showed weight gain and tender hepatomegaly, diagnosing moderate ACR (P1V3B1 = 5). We started a second course of steroid pulse therapy, but the patient's clinical findings did not improve. On POD 43, her third LB finding showed P1V1B1 with improved processes from ACR, but still displaying severe congestion and fibrotic obliteration of small hepatic veins. We suspected that her immunologic responses were associated with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) because her anti-HLA class I and class II antibodies were positive by flow panel-reactive antibody method and donor-specific antigen class II and C4d staining were also positive. We added mycophenolate mofetil and administered high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin to control the AMR, and anticoagulant therapy for the VOD/SOS. Her clinical findings and graft venous abnormalities finally improved; she was eventually discharged without sequelae on POD 72.     

Complication arising from a duplicated inferior vena cava following laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy: a case report

Selecting a kidney for living donor nephrectomy is driven by the tenet that donors are left with the higher functioning kidney. Traditionally, the left kidney is used because it has a longer renal vein, which aids anastamosis, and has an easier surgical approach. Anomalous left renal vasculature is not considered a contraindication to living donor nephrectomy. In the case of duplicated inferior vena cava, no specific considerations have been reported. We present a 42-year-old patient with infrarenal duplication of the vena cava who underwent laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy. His postoperative course was complicated by painful scrotal swelling necessitating multiple emergency room visits. Ultrasonography revealed bilateral hydroceles 5 weeks after surgery, which resolved with the use of a scrotal sling. Intraoperative ligation of a visibly dilated left gonadal vein was the likely etiology. Careful consideration should be taken in living donor nephrectomy in patients with duplication of inferior vena cava.     

Intrahepatic artery pseudoaneurysm associated with a metallic biliary stent after living donor liver transplantation: report of a case

An intrahepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (IHAA) is a very rare but potentially lethal complication occurring after liver transplantation. This report presents a case of an IHAA associated with a metallic biliary stent after liver transplantation. A 40-year-old male underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using a left lobe graft. The bile duct reconstruction was performed with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. He developed obstructive jaundice 5 years after LDLT, and had biliary stricture of the anastomosis area, therefore, the two metallic biliary stents were finally positioned at the stricture of the biliary tract. He suddenly developed hematemesis 8 years after LDLT, and computerized tomography scan showed an IHAA. Although seven interlocking detachable coils were placed at the neck of the aneurysm, hematemesis recurred 3 days after the initial embolization. Therefore, retransplantation was successfully performed 25 days after the embolization of IHAA using a right lobe graft from his son. In conclusion, metal stent insertion can lead to the fatal complication of HAA. The placement of a metallic stent could have been avoided in this case. Percutaneous metallic stent insertion for biliary stenosis after liver transplantation should therefore only be performed in carefully selected patients.     

精准肝脏外科理念在儿童活体肝移植供肝切取术中的临床价值

目的 探讨精准肝脏外科理念在儿童活体肝移植供肝切取术中的临床价值.方法 回顾性分析2012年12月至2014年1月上海交通大学医学院附属仁济医院收治的58例儿童活体肝移植供者的临床资料.术前对供者行CT等检查,将二维影像学数据进行三维重建,评估供者肝内胆管和血管情况,并对肝左动脉和肝左静脉解剖结构进行分型,测算供者标准肝脏体积、拟切取肝脏体积和受者标准肝脏体积,模拟手术操作,制订手术方案.采取精准肝切除切取供肝.采用门诊和电话方式进行随访,随访时间截至2014年4月.结果 58例儿童活体肝移植供者术前CT血管造影检查示肝左动脉Ⅰ型28例、Ⅱ型10例、Ⅲ型20例、无Ⅳ型供者;肝左静脉Ⅰ型35例、Ⅱ型23例.三维重建预测拟切取肝脏体积为(243±65) mL.58例供者均成功完成供肝切取术,其中7例为左半肝切取,51例为肝左外叶切取.2例供者行胆囊切除.术中实际切取肝脏体积为(255±59) mL,拟切取肝脏体积平均误差率为4.94％.移植物质量与受者体质量比为3.3％±1.0％.手术时间为(260±89)min,术中出血量为(181±35)mL,仅1例供者术中输RBC 2 U.供者术后胃肠功能恢复时间为(2.0±1.1)d,术后拔除引流管时间为(3.0±1.2)d,术后住院时间为(7±3)d,出院时所有供者血清WBC、Hb、ALT、AST、TBil、DBil、AIb等指标水平正常.2例供者术后发生并发症,分别为切口少量渗血和脂肪液化,均经对症治疗后痊愈.58例儿童活体肝移植供者术后均获得随访,中位随访时间为8.7个月.供者恢复良好,随访期间无并发症发生.结论 精准肝脏外科理念应用于儿童活体肝移植供肝切取术,切取准确率高、供者肝功能损害小、术后并发症少、恢复快.