Cyclosporine overcomes cold preservation/reperfusion injury of liver graft: Chemokine release and liver ultrastructure

There is a growing body of evidence that the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-ga), plays an important role in the development of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. We found that the immunosuppressants, cyclosporine-A (CsA), azathioprine, and FK506, have protective effects on such injury. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects of the immunosuppressant, CsA, on liver injury following cold preservation and transplantation, with special reference to the suppression of TNF-α release. Rat livers were stored in Euro-Collins solution (EC) at 4°C for 6h and orthotopically transplanted. The animals allotted to two groups: group A (untreated controls) and group B (CsA pretreatment of recipients). CsA (10 mg/kg, p.o.) was given for 3 consecutive days preoperatively. CsA pretreatment of the recipients significantly improved the 2-week survival rate (0/6 for group A, 3/6 for group B;P<0.05) and this was associated with a significant decrease in serum TNF-α levels 2h posttransplantation (group A, 69.8±15.7 pg/ml; group B, 22.8±6.8; mean±SEM;n=12 each;P<0.05) and amelioration of sinusoidal endothelial injury, assessed by electron microscopy. Plasma endotoxin levels following reperfusion of the grafts were not altered by the CsA therapy. Morphologically, CsA pretreatment of the recipients did not alter activation of Kupffer cells. CsA pretreatment of the recipient aids in preventing cold preservation/reperfusion injury of the liver graft, possibly by modulating effects of TNF-α.     

Viability of liver grafts from fasted donor rats: relationship to sinusoidal endothelial cell apoptosis

Previous studies have shown that livers from fasted donors appear to tolerate long-term preservation better than livers from fed donors, but the mechanism is not clear. Some studies have shown that the apoptosis of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) appeared to be a pivotal mechanism of ischemia/reperfusion injury in liver transplantation. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the relation of SEC apoptosis to liver viability in rats after liver transplantation, comparing findings for fasted and fed donors. Wistar rats were used as donors and recipients. The fed group had access to solid feed and water ad libitum. The fasted group was allowed access only to water for 4 days prior to liver harvest. All rat livers were preserved with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution at 2 °C for 24 h. After preservation, the livers were orthotopically transplanted, and survival time was measured. Apoptosis was determined by in-situ staining for apoptotic cells, using a TdT-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and electron microscope (EM) examination separately. The 14-day survival rates after 24-h preservation were 0% (0/11) for recipients of livers from fed donors and 91% (10/11) for recipients of livers from fasted donors. There was no significant difference in the numbers of TUNEL-positive SEC after 24-h preservation between the two groups. However, at 6 h after transplantation, the number of TUNEL-positive SEC was significantly higher in the fed group than in the fasted group. These results suggest that donor fasting decreases SEC apoptosis after reperfusion alone, and that this may be related to the protection of the liver graft from reperfusion injury. Received: December 22, 2000 / Accepted: February 15, 2001     

缺血预处理对大鼠移植肝脏微循环的保护作用

目的：探讨早期再灌注损伤中缺血预处理（IP）对大鼠移植肝脏微循环的保护作用。方法：采用SD大鼠原位肝移植动物模型，供肝冷保存时间100min，无肝期25min。32只SD大鼠随机平均分成两组，每组16只。对照组：获取供肝前仅以肝素生理盐水经门静脉灌注；IP组；获取供肝前阻断肝门血供10min，再灌注10min，然后再以肝素生理盐水经门静脉灌注。移植肝脏再灌注2h后取血及肝脏检测。结果：IP组的肝脏抗氧化酶活力明显高于对照组（P＜0．01），血清丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、门冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）及肝组织中的过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）含量均明显低于对照组（P＜0．001）；肝组织损伤以窦状内皮细胞为主，并且是以凋亡的方式发生死亡，IP组窦状内皮细胞损伤明显轻于对照组（P＜0．001）。结论：IP对大鼠移植肝脏微循环的早期再灌注损伤有保护作用。     

缺血后处理对大鼠移植肝缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨在体条件下缺血后处理对大鼠移植肝缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其可能机制。方法采用SD大鼠原位肝移植模型,供肝冷保存时间100min,无肝期控制于18min以内,60只雄性健康SD大鼠随机分为3组,对照组12只,缺血再灌注损伤组和后处理组各24只。对照组开腹后仅游离肝周韧带;缺血再灌注损伤组受体大鼠供肝切除前仅以肝素化生理盐水经门静脉灌注;后处理组供肝植入后完全再灌注前,给予多次短暂复灌复停作为缺血后处理。缺血再灌注损伤组、后处理组受体一半（6只）于再灌注后2h留取血液及肝组织,另一半（6只）于再灌注后6h留取肝组织。对照组于关腹后相应时间留取血液及肝组织。各组分别检测肝功能,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定血清肿瘤坏死因子Or．和中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶。根据酶促反应原理,利用分光光度仪测定肝脏谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、丙二醛、髓过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶。肝组织HE染色后光镜下观察组织学变化。结果缺血再灌注损伤组和后处理组血清肝功能指标、炎性细胞因子水平及肝组织过氧化物含量均高于对照组（P〈0．05）,而后处理组较缺血再灌注损伤组则明显低（P〈0．05）;缺血再灌注损伤组和后处理组肝组织抗氧化酶活力显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）,而后处理组较缺血再灌注损伤组则明显高（P〈0．05）。结论缺血后处理对大鼠移植肝的缺血再灌注损伤有明显的保护作用。提高组织的抗氧化能力和降低炎性细胞因子水平可能是缺血后处理保护作用的机制之一。     

Endothelin antagonist treatment for successful liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors

BACKGROUND: With the shortage of cadaveric donors, non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) are a potential source of liver allografts. However, warm ischemic injury in NHBDs seriously affects the viability of graft liver. Endothelin (ET)-1 has been reported to be involved in the hepatic microcirculatory disturbances after ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: In a porcine orthotopic liver transplantation model, changes in the serum and liver tissue ET-1 concentration were measured and the effects of an ET receptor antagonist, TAK-044, were evaluated. After cardiac arrest of the donors, liver allografts were subjected to 90 min of warm ischemia, flushed, and preserved for 4 hr at 4 degrees C. The pigs were divided into two groups: a control group (no drug treatment) and a drug-treated group, in which donors and recipients were treated with TAK-044 (10 mg/kg body, drip intravenous injection). Both groups had six donor/recipient pairs. RESULTS: -The ET-1 concentration in the hepatic venous blood increased after reperfusion of the graft in the control group recipients. ET-1 in the graft liver significantly increased during the cold preservation period. TAK-044 treatment significantly increased recipient 7-day survival rate. After reperfusion of the graft, the concentrations of serum liver enzymes and arterial lactate in the drug-treated group were significantly lower than in the control group. The postoperative increase in portal venous pressure was significantly reduced in the drug-treated group. Measurements of liver enzymes in the washed-out preservation fluid at the time of graft rinsing indicated that TAK-044 treatment of the donors significantly suppressed liver enzyme release during ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate TAK-044 treatment has protective effects on postoperative function of hepatic allografts procured from NHBDs.     

一氧化氮在缺血预处理保护大鼠移植肝脏再灌注损伤中的作用

目的　探讨一氧化氮 (NO)在缺血预处理 (IP)保护大鼠移植肝脏缺血再灌注损伤中的作用。方法　采用SD大鼠原位肝移植动物模型 ,供肝冷保存时间为 10 0min ,无肝期 2 5min。12 8只大鼠随机分成 4组 (n =32 ) :A组 (对照组 )、B组 (IP组 )、C组 [腺苷 (Ade)组 ]、D组 [NO合成抑制剂N L 精氨酸甲基脂 (NAME)组 ]。其中各组的半数用于观察存活率 ,另一半用于移植肝脏再灌注 2h后取血及肝脏检测。结果　IP组和Ade组的 1周存活率、胆汁分泌量、抗氧化酶活力及血清NO水平均明显高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶 (ALT)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)及肝组织中的过氧化物含量均明显低于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 )。肝组织损伤以窦状内皮细胞为主 ,并且是以凋亡的方式发生死亡 ,IP组和Ade组窦状内皮细胞损伤明显轻于对照组 (P <0 .0 0 1) ;NAME组的各种观察结果与对照组相近 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　IP能够通过增加NO的合成来减轻再灌注早期窦状内皮细胞所受到的损伤 ,改善微循环 ,提高移植肝脏的功能。     

肝移植术中应用S-腺苷-L-蛋氨酸对供肝热缺血损伤的影响

目的探讨术中S-腺苷-L-蛋氨酸（SAMe）加入UW液和血浆冲洗液对热缺血损伤供肝及其恢复的影响。方法建立10min热缺血大鼠肝移植模型，分为A组：UW液灌注＋乳酸钠林格氏液冲洗、B组：UW液灌注＋血浆冲洗、C组：SAMe加入UW液灌注＋血浆冲洗和D组：UW液灌注＋SAMe加入血浆冲洗4组，观察肝组织组织病理学变化和电子显微镜下超微结构变化，并检测血清AST和透明质酸。结果C组和D组术后24h血清AST均低于B组（P〈0．05）。A组术后3h和24h血清HA高于B组（P〈0．05），B组复流后3h及24h血清HA均高于C组和D组（P〈0．05）。组织病理学表现B组复流后3h和24h肝细胞损伤和微循环紊乱较C组和D组明显；超微结构表现，A组复流后3h线粒体肿胀，肝窦内皮细胞肿胀，细胞核不规则，可见内皮细胞凋亡，大部分区域肝窦状隙明显狭窄，内皮层结构模糊，红细胞淤积，受压变形，白细胞附壁，可见内皮层完整性破坏；复流后24h，可见线粒体嵴断裂，核融解。B组内皮细胞损伤较A组轻，C组和D组超微结构表现微循环紊乱和肝细胞损伤表现较B组轻。结论供肝切取术中UW液中加入SAMe灌注保存，血浆冲洗液中加入SAMe可改善热缺血供肝微循环，减轻缺血再灌注损伤，并减轻肝细胞热缺血损伤，有利于10min热缺血供肝功能的恢复。     

缺血预处理对大鼠移植肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的　探讨缺血预处理 (ischemicpreconditioning ,IP)对大鼠移植肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。 方法　采用SD大鼠原位肝移植动物模型 ,供肝冷保存时间 10 0min ,无肝期 2 5min。 64只SD大鼠随机均分成两组 :对照组 ,获取供肝前仅以肝素生理盐水经门静脉灌注 ;IP组 ,获取供肝前阻断肝门血供 10min ,再灌注 10min ,然后再以肝素生理盐水经门静脉灌注。每组受体的一半 (n =8)用于观察存活率 ,另一半 (n =8)用于移植肝脏再灌注 2h后取血及肝脏检测。结果　IP组的 1w存活率、胆汁分泌量、抗氧化酶活力、血清NO水平均明显高于对照组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,血清ALT、AST、LDH、TNF及肝组织中的过氧化产物含量均明显低于对照组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,组织的病理改变也轻于对照组。结论　IP能够提高血清NO水平 ,降低血清TNF含量 ,对大鼠移植肝脏的缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用     

兔肝脏保存─再灌注损伤模型的建立及评价

作者应用导管将受体腹主动脉血液分流至供肝，建立了兔肝脏保存一再灌注损伤模型。并对再灌注前、后供肝及受体肝脏的组织结构及功能、再灌注后供肝血流量及受体血流动力学变化进行了动态观察。结果表明，该模型具有良好的稳定性及重复性，且能准确地反映肝移植时供肝保存一再灌注损伤的病理生理过程。     

Pharmacologic graft protection without donor pretreatment in liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors

BACKGROUND: Non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) are considered potential sources of transplant organs in an effort to alleviate the problem of donor shortage in clinical liver transplantation. We investigated the possibility of pharmacologic protection of hepatic allograft function from NHBDs without donor pretreatment. METHODS: Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed using pigs. In donors, cardiac arrest was induced by stopping the respirator. Forty-five minutes after cessation of the respirator, the liver was flushed with cold lactated Ringer's solution including heparin and with the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, and then preserved for 8 hr at 4 degrees C in the UW solution. The pigs were divided into two groups: a control group and a treated group. In the treated group, an endothelin antagonist TAK-044 was added to the UW solutions (10 mg/L), and TAK-044 (10 mg/kg body weight) and a platelet activating factor antagonist E5880 (0.3 mg/kg body weight) were also administered to the recipients. RESULTS: TAK-044 and E5880 treatment significantly increased the 7-day survival rate of the recipients (100% vs. 17%, P<0.05). In the treated group, portal venous pressure immediately after reperfusion of the graft was significantly lower than in the control group, and postoperative increase in serum concentrations of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and total bilirubin was attenuated. Moreover, the energy charge and adenosine triphosphate concentration of the liver were rapidly restored after reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacologic modulation with TAK-044 and E5880 avoiding donor pretreatment can improve the viability of hepatic allografts procured from NHBDs.     

Beneficial effect of cyclosporine pretreatment in canine liver ischemia. Enzymatic and electronmicroscopic studies

The effect of cyclosporine on hepatic ischemia was investigated. Hepatic ischemia was produced for 90 min in mongrel dogs. Experimental dogs were divided into three groups as follows: group A (control group), group B (CsA pretreatment group), group C (CsA posttreatment group). CsA was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight/day for 3 days in the pre- or postoperative period. Survival rates were 61.5% in group A, 84.6% in group B, and 30.8% in group C. Enzymatic activity such as aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase was highest in group C, lowest in group B, and intermediate in group A. Opposite results were obtained for serum albumin concentrations. The mechanisms of the effect was investigated using a 60-min hepatic ischemia model. Serum levels of beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase in group B were lower than those in group A and group C. Electronmicroscopic specimens taken at 16 h after 60-min hepatic ischemia demonstrated that the extent of ischemic injury was mildest in group B. The present study demonstrated a beneficial effect on hepatic ischemia of CsA administered for 3 days prior to the ischemia. One of the mechanisms for this beneficial effect could be the stabilization of lysosomal membranes. These results suggest that CsA should be administered to a donor before organ harvesting for liver transplantation because of this beneficial effect.     

Protection of sinusoidal endothelial cells against storage/reperfusion injury by prostaglandin E2 derived from Kupffer cells.

BACKGROUND: In clinical liver transplants, grafts are frequently exposed to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) before harvest and may be predisposed to dysfunction. Because graft failure is linked to sinusoidal endothelial cell injury after storage/reperfusion, we investigated the effect of donor exposure to LPS on graft survival in relation to sinusoidal endothelial cell injury after storage/reperfusion in rats. METHODS: Rats were injected with 0.5 mg/kg LPS. In some rats, 20 mg/kg GdCl3 or 5 mg/kg indomethacin was injected before LPS to ablate Kupffer cells and inhibit prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, respectively. Other rats were injected with 100 microg/kg dimethyl PGE2, a stable PGE2 analog. Rat livers were harvested, stored in cold UW solution and transplanted to non-treated rats for determination of survival and liver injury in recipients. Otherwise, after cold storage, the livers were reperfused briefly with physiological buffer containing trypan blue for determination of sinusoidal endothelial cell injury by counting trypan blue-positive nuclei in histological sections. RESULTS: Donor treatment with LPS increased hepatic PGE2 production before storage and decreased recipient survival, but paradoxically decreased killing of sinusoidal endothelial cells after storage and reperfusion. Pretreatment of donors with GdCl3 or indomethacin prevented the protective preconditioning of sinusoidal endothelial cells by LPS, whereas pretreatment with dimethyl PGE2 protected sinusoidal endothelial cells to the same extent as LPS. Unlike LPS, however, PGE2 attenuated graft injury after liver transplants. CONCLUSION: PGE2 derived from LPS-stimulated Kupffer cells protects sinusoidal endothelial cells against storage/reperfusion injury. Unlike LPS, PGE2 improves graft function after liver transplants. Thus, donor preconditioning with PGE2 may be beneficial in liver transplants.     

Inhibition of free radical generation and improved survival by protection of the hepatic microvascular endothelium by targeted erythrocytes in orthotopic rat liver transplantation

The capacity of specifically targeted erythrocytes to inhibit free radical-mediated injury to the endothelial cell after cold preservation, and improve liver function was studied in two experimental models: An isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL) system and syngeneic orthotopic rat liver transplantation. In the IPRL model, livers were preserved in University of Wisconsin solution for 24 h at 4 degrees C. At the end of the preservation period, livers were flushed with lactated Ringer's (control), immunoerythrocytes (IES), or blank intact erythrocytes prior to warm reperfusion for 2 h using an assanguinous Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Production of superoxide (O2-) anion during warm reperfusion in the IES-treated liver was reduced by 65% as compared with controls (P less than 0.001) and by 74% (P less than 0.001) when compared with blank erythrocyte-treated livers. Endothelial cell preservation, as assessed by levels of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), was much better in the IES-treated group (P less than 0.001) when compared with untreated livers. Hepatocellular preservation was markedly improved in the IES-treated livers. In the syngeneic liver transplantation model, livers were preserved in UW solution for 24 h at 4 degrees C. Prior to implantation, livers were flushed with 5 ml of cold lactated Ringer's or immunoerythrocytes. Survival after three weeks was 60% in the IES-treated group and 30% in the untreated group. Survival in the IES-treated group was not significantly different from a control (no preservation) group. IES-treated livers in both models demonstrated better endothelial cell integrity and ultimate liver function. IES treatment therefore appears to protect the hepatic microvascular endothelial cell from reperfusion injury and could prove to be an easy reproducible method of donor organ preparation after cold preservation.     

Experimental study on the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in liver transplantation]

We investigated the effects of combination of cyclosporine A (CsA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in order to reduce hepatopathy caused by host-versus-graft-reaction (HVG reaction). DA/S1c rats were used as donors, and LEW/Sea rats were used as recipients in orthotopic liver transplantation. The liver transplanted rats were divided to four groups as follows; group A was control that was not given CsA nor UDCA, group B was given CsA alone, group C was given UDCA alone and group D was given combination of CsA and UDCA. These groups were compared and evaluated in case of same dose of CsA that was administered with or without UDCA. The survival periods of group D were significantly longer than those of group B. Blood biochemical levels in group D were significantly lower than those of group B. Histological study of the liver graft of group D showed that destruction of hepatic structure was mild in comparison to that of group B. It was demonstrated that the combination of low dose of CsA and UDCA could prevent hepatopathy due to HVG reaction. These results suggested that addition of UDCA to CsA would be able to reduce the dose of CsA in clinical liver transplantation.     

Lazaroid U-74389G预处理对大鼠心脏停搏供体肝移植缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨在心脏停搏供体肝移植中 ,LazaroidU 74 389G预处理对大鼠供肝热缺血损伤的保护作用。方法实验以U 74 389G预处理与否、以及供肝获取前经历的心脏停搏时间 4 5或6 0min分为 4组 ,分别为N 4 5组、N 6 0组、tN 4 5组和tN 6 0组 ,而后行大鼠原位肝移植 ,比较各组术后存活率、肝功能、MDA和肝脏病理学改变。结果N 4 5组、N 6 0组、tN 4 5组和tN 6 0组肝移植术后1周的存活率分别为 2 5 % (2 / 8)、0 (0 / 8)、5 8% (7/ 12 )和 33% (4/ 12 )。U 74 389G的预处理可以显著提高心脏停搏供体肝移植的存活率 ,并能够改善术后肝功能和减轻肝脏病理学改变 ,降低MDA的表达。结论在心脏停搏供体肝移植中 ,U 74 389G预处理可以减轻热缺血再灌注对供肝造成的损伤 ,提高肝移植存活率     

The role of bile salt toxicity in the pathogenesis of bile duct injury after non-heart-beating porcine liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic bile duct strictures are a serious complication after non-heart-beating (NHB) liver transplantation. Bile salt toxicity has been identified as an important factor in the pathogenesis of bile duct injury and cholangiopathies. The role of bile salt toxicity in the development of biliary strictures after NHB liver transplantation is unclear. METHODS: In a porcine model of NHB liver transplantation, we studied the effect of different periods of warm ischemia in the donor on bile composition and subsequent bile duct injury after transplantation. After induction of cardiac arrest in the donor, liver procurement was delayed for 0 min (group A), 15 min (group B), or more or equal to 30 min (group C). Livers were subsequently transplanted after 4 hr of cold preservation. In the recipients, bile flow was measured, and bile samples were collected daily to determine the bile salt-to-phospholipid ratio. Severity of bile duct injury was semiquantified by using a histologic grading scale. RESULTS: Posttransplantation survival was directly related to the duration of warm ischemia in the donor. The bile salt-to-phospholipid ratio in bile produced early after transplantation was significantly higher in group C, compared with group A and B. Histopathologic condition showed the highest degree of bile duct injury in group C. CONCLUSION: Prolonged warm ischemia in NHB donors is associated with the formation of toxic bile after transplantation, with a high biliary bile salt-to-phospholipid ratio. These data suggest that bile salt toxicity contributes to the pathogenesis of bile duct injury after NHB liver transplantation.     

Donor brain death reduces survival after transplantation in rat livers preserved for 20 hr.

BACKGROUND: Eighty percent of donor organs come from donors who have suffered brain trauma (brain-dead donors). This unphysiological state alters the hemodynamic and hormonal status of the organ donor. This can cause organ injury, which has been suggested to alter the immunological or inflammatory status of the organ after transplantation, and may lead to increased sensitivity of the organ to preservation/transplantation injury. In this study we asked the question: does brain death cause injury to the liver that decreases successful liver preservation? METHODS: The rat liver transplant model was used to compare survival in rats receiving a liver from a brain-dead donor versus a non-brain-dead donor. Brain death was induced by inflation of a cranially placed balloon catheter. The rats were maintained normotensive with fluid infusion for 6 hr. The livers were flushed with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and immediately transplanted or cold stored for 20 hr before transplantation. RESULTS: Recipient survival with immediately transplanted livers or those stored for 20 hr was 100% with livers from non-brain-dead donors. However, survival decreased when livers were procured from brain-dead donors. Survival was 75% (6/8) when storage time was 0 hr and 20% (2/10) when the liver was cold stored for 20 hr before transplantation. CONCLUSION: This study shows that brain death induces alterations in the donor liver that make it more sensitive to preservation/reperfusion injury than livers from donors without brain death. The mechanism of injury to the liver caused by brain death is not known. Because most livers used clinically for transplantation come from brain-dead donors, it is possible that poor function of these livers is due to the intrinsic condition of the donor organ, more than the quality of the preservation. Methods to treat the brain-dead donor to improve the quality of the liver may be needed to allow better preservation of the organ and to give better outcome after liver transplantation.     

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??Adult-adult right lobe graft living donor liver transplantation: an analysis of 21 cases LIN Dong-dong, LU Shi-chun, LI Ning, et al. Liver Transplantation Center, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Corresponding author??LI Ning, E-mail??liningbjyah@vip.sina.com
Abstract Objective To investigate the key technical skills in adult-adult right lobe graft living donor liver transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 21 adult donors and recipients who underwent right lobe living donor liver transplantation from April 2007 to May 2009 at Beijing You’an Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. Results There was no death in donors. Twenty-three complications were cured smoothly. Fifteen complications belonged to Grade I and the other 8 complications belonged to Grade II by Clavien classification. There were 4 recipients death in one month after operation and 7 biliary complications occurred during following-up period. All biliary complications were cured by surgical procedures. Four right lobe grafts included middle hepatic vein (group A), 17 right lobe grafts didn’t include middle hepatic vein (group B). There was no significant difference (χ2 =1.000, P=0.617) in 1 year survival rate between group A (75%) and group B (76%). Conclusion Adult-adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation is an important modality for end-stage liver disease patients, especially for patients with liver failure. Rigorous preoperative evaluation, careful operation, proper distribution of middle hepatic vein to maintain graft and remnant liver functional volume, and intensive postoperative care are guarantee for the safety of donors and recipients in living donor liver transplantation.     

Safety and necessity of including the middle hepatic vein in the right lobe graft in adult-to-adult live donor liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of donors who have donated the middle hepatic vein in right lobe live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and to determine whether such inclusion is necessary for optimum graft function. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The necessity to include the middle hepatic vein in a right lobe graft in adult-to-adult LDLT is controversial. Inclusion of the middle hepatic vein in the graft provides uniform hepatic venous drainage but may lead to congestion of segment IV in the donor. METHODS: From 1996 to 2002, 93 right-lobe LDLTs were performed. All right-lobe grafts except 1 contained the middle hepatic vein. In the donor operation, attention was paid to preserve the segment IV hepatic artery and to avoid prolonged rotation of the right lobe. The middle hepatic vein was transected proximal to a major segment IVb hepatic vein whereas possible to preserve the venous drainage in the liver remnant. RESULTS: There was no donor death. Two donors had intraoperative complications (accidental left hepatic vein occlusion and portal vein thrombosis) and were well after immediate rectification. Twenty-four donors (26%) had postoperative complications, mostly minor wound infection. The postoperative international normalized ratio on day 1 was better in the donors with preservation of segment IVb hepatic vein than those without the preservation, but, in all donors, the liver function was largely normal by postoperative day 7. The first recipient had severe graft congestion as the middle hepatic vein was not reconstructed before reperfusion. In 7 other recipients, the middle hepatic vein was found occluded intraoperatively owing to technical errors. The postoperative hepatic and renal function of the recipients with an occluded or absent middle hepatic vein was worse than those with a patent middle hepatic vein. The hospital mortality rate was also higher in those with an occluded middle hepatic vein (3/9 vs. 5/84, P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of the middle hepatic vein in right-lobe LDLT is safe and is essential for optimum graft function and patient survival.