Rescue of liver grafts from hepatic artery occlusion in living-related liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation remains a significant cause of graft loss and death. Retransplantation is a difficult option after living-related liver transplantation in Japan. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients underwent living-related liver transplantation with left-sided liver grafts donated from their relatives. The hepatic artery was anastomosed end to end under a surgical microscope. Anticoagulant therapy was maintained for 2 weeks after operation. Routine post-transplant Doppler ultrasonography together with serum blood tests were performed twice a day during the first 2 weeks. RESULTS: Three patients developed hepatic artery occlusion, which was identified by routine Doppler ultrasonography before the serum transaminase values increased on days 7, 7 and 3 after surgery respectively. In two of the three patients, no apparent arterial thrombosis was recognized and vasospasm was therefore considered to be the cause of the occlusion. Arterial patency was restored by urgent revascularization with reanastomosis in all patients, but one patient with a functional graft died from a cerebral haemorrhage on day 47. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of hepatic artery occlusion by routine Doppler ultrasonography and revascularization of the graft is an indispensable strategy for preventing graft loss after living-related liver transplantation.     

成人间活体肝移植肝动脉重建方法和并发症的处理

目的 探讨成人间活体肝移植的肝动脉重建和并发症处理的经验.方法 自2002年1月至2006年7月,共施行50例成人间右半肝活体肝移植.在供受者间肝动脉的重建中,供者右肝动脉与受者右肝动脉吻合24例,与受者肝固有动脉吻合12例,与受者左肝动脉吻合3例,与受者肝总动脉吻合2例,与受者肠系膜上动脉发出的副右肝动脉吻合2例,与受者肝总动脉自体大隐静脉间置搭桥3例.受者腹主动脉与供者右肝动脉自体大隐静脉搭桥2例,用保存的尸体髂血管行受者腹主动脉与供者右肝动脉搭桥2例.供者肝动脉直径1.5～2.5 mm,采用显微外科技术在3.5倍手术放大镜和5～10倍手术显微镜下完成肝动脉重建.结果 50例成人间右半肝活体肝移植中,有2例(4%)分别于术后1d、7d发生肝动脉血栓形成,立即采用自体大隐静脉从肾下腹主动脉至供者右肝动脉搭桥术,恢复供肝血流,痊愈出院.1例术后1.5个月后发生肝动脉血栓形成,随访期无临床症状未行处理.术后和随访期未发现肝动脉狭窄、肝动脉假性动脉瘤等并发症.围手术期未有与肝动脉并发症有关的死亡病例.全部病例获得随访,随访时间2～52个月(中位随访时间9个月),1年实际生存率为92%.结论 选择恰当的肝动脉重建方式和应用显微外科技术可显著降低肝动脉并发症,及时处理肝动脉并发症是保证供肝存活的关键.     

Correlation between graft arterial anatomy and biliary complications after liver transplantation

Knowledge of the arterial vascular anatomy of the liver is important for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) because the lack of an adequate arterial blood supply results in biliary and parenchymal complications or graft loss. A number of reports have shown a relationship between aberrations of graft arteries and an increased incidence of early or late complications. Recent studies suggest no differences unless multiple anastomoses are required. The aim of this study was to report the incidence of aberrant hepatic arterial anatomy and its impact on vascular and biliary complications. We retrospectively reviewed data of 90 OLT performed on 82 patients, including 4 who underwent retransplantation from March 2003 to March 2006. The means recipient age was 52.47 years and 49 were men. The main caval vein reconstruction technique was piggyback (n = 55; 61.2%). The biliary reconstruction was performed by an end-to-end choledocho-choledocho anastomosis in 83 cases (92.3%) with choledocho-jejunal anastomosis (Roux-in-Y) in 7 cases (7.7%). Aberrant arterial anatomy was noted in 20 liver grafts (22.2%), namely, accessory right hepatic artery (n = 6; 6.6%), accessory left (n = 10; 11%), both accessory right and left (n = 3; 3.3%), and hepatic common artery from mesenteric artery (n = 1; 1.1%). Among the transplantations of grafts with aberrant arterial anatomy, 2 cases (10%) developed hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and 4 (20%) biliary complications. The rate of HAT and biliary complications among grafts with normal arterial anatomy was 3 and 8 cases (4.2% and 11.42%), respectively. Despite a greater number of complications among OLT with aberrant arterial anatomy, the Fisher test showed no significant relationship between HAT or biliary complications and aberrant arterial anatomy.     

Versatility of the inferior epigastric artery as an interpositional vascular graft in living-related liver transplantation.

We have used the recipient inferior epigastric artery as an interpositional vascular graft in living-related liver transplantation cases with hepatic artery obstruction, enabling us to restore the arterial inflow sufficiently to the transplanted liver. The inferior epigastric artery is easy to access during abdominal surgery. Easy to harvest, it is anatomically constant and has a caliber equivalent to that of the hepatic artery. Donor site morbidity is negligible. There is no risk of rejection because of the autograft. There has been no report on the availability of the inferior epigastric artery for hepatic artery reconstruction. We consider this vessel as a good option for an arterial conduit in case of the inadequacy or thrombosis of the hepatic artery in living-related liver transplantation.     

Continuous transcatheter arterial thrombolysis for early hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation

Early hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after orthotopic liver transplantation remains a significant cause of graft loss and patient death. The most effective treatment approach is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of continuous transcatheter arterial thrombolysis in the treatment of early HAT. Routine posttransplant color Doppler imaging (CDI) was performed to monitor hepatic artery blood flow. HAT was confirmed by arterial angiography in suspected cases. HAT was identified in 8 patients (8/287, 2.8%) which occurred on days 2 to 19 (mean, 5.2 days) after liver transplantation. Patients with HAT were treated with continuous transcatheter arterial thrombolysis using urokinase. Successful revascularization through thrombolysis was obtained in all eight cases. One patient died of a pulmonary infection at 2 months after liver transplantation. Another patient underwent retransplantation because of resistant allograft rejection and recurrence of HAT 6 months after the first operation, but died from multiple system organ failure 2 months later. The other six patients remained in good health during the follow-up period of 3 to 27 months. Our results demonstrate that CDI is an effective method to monitor the occurrence of early HAT after liver transplantation. Furthermore, continuous transcatheter arterial thrombolysis with urokinase could be a rational therapeutic approach to rescue the allograft following early HAT diagnosis confirmed by arterial angiography.     

Hepatic artery thrombosis in infants. A comparison of whole livers, reduced-size grafts, and grafts from living-related donors.

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is a major cause of patient morbidity and graft loss in pediatric liver transplantation (OLT). Although some grafts may be salvaged by arterial thrombectomy and reconstruction, many patients require retransplantation. Patient survival is reduced by HAT. It has been suggested that the incidence of HAT may be altered by the use of reduced-size grafts (RSG). We analyzed our series of infants receiving OLT to determine the frequency of HAT in full-size OLT, cadaveric RSG, and living-related RSG. The role of arterial anastomotic technique in the development of HAT was also examined. Between 10/1/84 and 12/7/90 433 liver transplants were performed. During this period 100 patients between 3 months and 2 years of age (mean 13 months) received 134 liver grafts. The mean weight at the time of transplant was 7.9 kg. (range: 1.9-15 kg). Of the 134 grafts, 60 were whole livers, 61 were cadaveric RSGs, and 13 were living-related RSGs. The cadaveric RSGs were 9 right lobe grafts, 21 left lobe grafts, and 31 left lateral segment grafts. Twenty-seven of the cadaveric RSGs were from split livers, while the other 34 were simple reductions. All 13 living-related RSGs were left lateral segments. HAT occurred in 15 of 60 (25%) whole livers, 9 of 61 (15%) cadaveric RSGs, and 3 of 13 (23%) of the living-related-donor RSGs (P = NS). Subdividing the cadaveric RSGs revealed that HAT occurred in 3 of 9 (33%) right lobe grafts, 3 of 21 (14%) left lobe grafts, and 3 of 31 (10%) left lateral segment grafts (P = NS). The site of the arterial anastomosis in the recipient correlated with the incidence of HAT (hepatic artery 21/86 [24%], celiac axis 1/9 [11%], aorta 2/32 [6%], P = 0.06). In conclusion, it appears that use of a cadaveric left lobe or left lateral segment graft and an aortic arterial anastomosis reduces the risk of hepatic artery thrombosis in liver transplant recipients less than 2 years of age.     

Outcome of hepatic artery reconstruction in liver transplantation with an iliac arterial interposition graft

BACKGROUND: In case of anomal hepatic arterial inflow, it can be necessary to perform revascularization of the liver allograft by iliac arterial interposition graft. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 613 liver transplants in a 16-yr period. The hepatic artery (HA) graft group (n = 101) consisted of patients with arterial inflow based on recipient infrarenal aorta using donor iliac artery graft tunneled through the transverse mesocolon. The control group (n = 512) consisted of patients who underwent liver transplantation with routine HA reconstruction. RESULTS: Both groups are homogeneous and comparable. In case of retransplantation, arterial conduit with iliac graft was adopted more frequently instead of conventional arterial anastomosis (24.8% vs. 9%, p < 0.0001). The 1-, 3- and 5-yr overall survival was 85.41, 79.42, 76.57% in the control group and 76.21, 73.43, 73.43% in the HA graft group, respectively (p = ns). The 1-, 3- and 5-yr graft survival was better in the control group (81.51, 73.66, 69.22% vs. 71.17, 62.50, 53.42%) (p = 0.01). In case of retransplantation, the 1-, 3- and 5-yr overall (57.81, 53.95, 41.96% vs. 60, 51.95, 49.85%) and graft survival (57.52, 53.68, 41.75% vs. 56, 50.4, 40.3%) was similar in control and HA graft group, respectively (p = ns). Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) rate is 21.8% vs. 8.6% (p < 0.0001) in HA graft group and control group, respectively. The only factor independently predictive of early HAT resulted arterial conduit (p = 0.001, OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.57-6.21). Retransplant procedure, donor age and arterial iliac conduit were found to be a significant risk factors for late HAT, at univariate analysis. At multivariate analysis, donor age >50 yr old resulted the only factor independently associated with late HAT (p < 0.0001, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.07). CONCLUSION: Iliac arterial interpositional graft is an alternative solution for arterial revascularization of liver allograft in case of retransplantation when the use of HA is not possible. In case of primary transplantation, is better not to perform arterial conduit if it is possible, for poor graft survival and high incidence of early HAT, especially in case of liver donor aged over 50 yr.     

Versatility of right gastroepiploic and gastroduodenal arteries for arterial reconstruction in adult living donor liver transplantation

Background

In cases where there is severe intimal dissection in the recipient hepatic artery (HA), or if the HA has been used already and additional operations are needed due to graft rejection or arterial occlusion, an alternative is necessary. In the present study, we have reported the feasibility of using the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) and gastroduodenal artery (GDA) in various situations where the HA is not a feasible option.

Methods

Among 463 patients who underwent primary adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation from January 2002 to July 2010, eight subjects required alternative vessels. Four recipients displayed severe intimal injury associated with previous transarterial chemoembolization (TACE); two, required a salvage operation due to hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT); and two, retransplantations due to chronic rejection. The RGEA was used in five and the GDA in three patients.

Results

Postoperative Doppler ultrasonography and three-dimensional computed tomography showed patent arterial flow in all patients. However, HAT recurred in one patient who underwent a salvage operation with the RGEA; she died 2 months later. Two other patients died due to wound infection and respiratory failure within 3 months despite intact hepatic arterial flow. Four patients had no further complications during follow-up (mean = 33 months).

Conclusion

Although there was a discrepancy in the diameter of the HA and the RGEA (or GDA), there was no problem with mobilization and microanastomosis. We therefore believe that these vessels can be good alternatives when the hepatic artery is unavailable.     

Preoperative evaluation of the right gastroepiploic artery using abdominal ultrasonography

Preoperative evaluation of the right gastroepiploic artery was performed by abdominal ultrasonography to determine whether the graft was adequate for coronary artery bypass. The gastroepiploic artery was used when the graft diameter was greater than 2 mm with pulsatile flow. Postoperative angiography revealed the gastroepiploic artery dominant, and the graft diameter measured by angiography was almost the same size as that of abdominal ultrasonography. The right gastroepiploic artery (GEA) has been an important arterial graft in coronary revascularization, and the opportunities to use this artery as the in situ or free graft have been increasing lately. However we sometimes experience cases in which the GEA is not suitable for the graft because the diameter is not large enough to anastomose or the blood flow is poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the graftability of the GEA using abdominal ultrasonography preoperatively.     

成人肝移植术后早期肝动脉血栓形成的诊断与治疗

目的 探讨成人肝移植术后肝动脉血栓形成(hepatic artery thrombosis,HAT)的诊断与治疗,及其对患者预后的影响.方法 2007年6月至2010年10月我中心共实施成人尸体肝脏移植387例.术后采用床边彩色多普勒超声监测移植肝血流.疑有肝动脉血栓形成时,采用超声造影或肝动脉造影明确诊断,根据病情采用介入溶栓治疗、手术再血管化治疗及再次肝移植等治疗.结果 387例中术后共有10例患者发生HAT,发生率2.6％.发生HAT的中位时间为肝移植术后7(范围2～18)d.2例采用介入溶栓治疗,其中1例伴肝动脉狭窄放置支架,均痊愈;3例再次手术行肝动脉重建联合肝动脉局部溶栓治疗,其中1例术后再次出现HAT,死亡;2例行再次肝移植,痊愈;3例出现肝内脓肿,严重感染,肝功能恶化死亡.死亡率为40％(4/10).结论 肝移植术后常规彩色多普勒超声监测肝动脉血流是早期发现HAT的关键,超声造影及肝动脉造影可明确诊断;及时采用介入溶栓、手术再血管化及再次肝移植等治疗虽然可减少患者死亡,但预防HAT发生更为重要.     

Intraoperative hepatic artery blood flow predicts early hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation

Hepatic artery complications after orthotopic liver transplantation are associated with a high rate of graft loss and mortality (23% to 35%) because they can lead to liver ischemia. The reported incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after adult liver transplantation is 2.5% to 6.8%. Typically, these patients are treated with urgent surgical revascularization or emergent liver retransplantation. Since January 2007, we have recorded the postanastomotic hepatic artery flow after revascularization. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between hepatic blood flow on revascularization and early HAT. Retrospectively, we reviewed perioperative variables from 110 consecutive liver transplantation performed at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital (Seville, Spain) between January 2007 and October 2010. We evaluated the following preoperative (donor and recipient) and intraoperative variables: donor and recipient age, cytomegalovirus serology, ABO-compatibility, anatomical variations of the donor hepatic artery, number of arterial anastomoses, portal and hepatic artery flow before closure, cold ischemia time, and blood transfusion. These variables were included in a univariate analysis. Of the 110 patients included in the study, 85 (77.7%) were male. The median age was 52 years. ABO blood groups were identical between donor and recipient in all the patients. The prevalence of early HAT was 6.36% (7 of 110). Crude mortality with/without HAT was 22% versus 2% (P = .001), respectively. Crude graft loss rate with/without HAT was 27% versus 4% (P = .003), respectively. Early HAT was shown to be primarily associated with intraoperative hepatic artery blood flow (93.3 mL/min recipients with HAT versus 187.7 mL/min recipients without HAT, P < .0001). No retransplantation showed early HAT. In our experience, intraoperative hepatic artery blood flow predicts early HAT after liver transplantation.     

Stent placement in pediatric patients with hepatic artery stenosis or thrombosis after liver transplantation

Hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) and thrombosis (HAT) after orthotopic liver transplantation remain significant causes of graft loss. Postoperative HAT follows approximately 5% to 19% of orthotopic liver transplantation. It is seen more frequently in pediatric patients. In the past, repeat transplantation was considered the first choice for therapy. Recently, interventional radiological techniques, such as thrombolysis, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, or stent placement in the hepatic artery, have been suggested, but little data exist related to stent placement in the thrombosed hepatic artery during the early postoperative period in pediatric patients. Between March 2000 and March 2005, percutaneous endoluminal stent placement was performed in seven pediatric liver transplant patients. HAT or HAS initially diagnosed in all cases by Doppler ultrasound then confirmed angiographically. We intervened in four cases of hepatic artery stenosis and three cases of hepatic artery occlusion. Stents were placed in all patients. Three ruptures were seen during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the hepatic artery using a covered coronary stents on the first, fifth day, or 17th postoperative day. In one patient, dissection of the origin of the common hepatic artery developed owing to a guiding sheath, and a second stent was placed to cover the dissected segment. The other two hepatic artery stents remained patent. In one stent became occluded at 3 months after the intervention with no clinical problems. Follow-up ranged from 9 to 40 months. In conclusion, early and late postoperative stent placement in the graft hepatic artery was technically feasible.     

Hepatic Resection in Liver Transplant Recipients: Single Center Experience and Review of the Literature

Biliary complications such as ischemic (type) biliary lesions frequently develop following liver transplantation, requiring costly medical and endoscopic treatment. If conservative approaches fail, re-transplantation is most often an inevitable sequel. Because of an increasing donor organ shortage and unfavorable outcomes in hepatic re-transplantation, efforts to prolong graft survival become of particular interest. From a series of 1685 liver transplants, we herein report on three patients who underwent partial hepatic graft resection for (ischemic type) biliary lesions. In all cases, left hepatectomy (Couinaud's segments II, III and IV) was performed without Pringle maneuver or mobilization of the right liver. All patients fully recovered postoperatively, but biliary leakage required surgical revision twice in one patient. At last follow-up, two patients presented alive and well. The other patient with persistent hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), however, demonstrated progression of disease in the right liver remnant and required re-transplantation 13 months after hepatic graft resection. Including our own patients, review of the literature identified 24 adult patients who underwent hepatic graft resection. In conclusion, partial graft hepatectomy can be considered a safe and beneficial procedure in selected liver transplant recipients with anatomical limited biliary injury, thereby, preserving scarce donor organs.     

成人肝移植中的肝动脉搭桥术——澳大利亚 Australia National Liver Transplant Unit的经验

目的 介绍澳大利亚国家肝移植中心在成人肝移植中应用肝动脉搭桥术的经验。方法 对澳大利亚国家肝移植中心（Australia National Liver Transplant Unit，ANLTU）1986—2003年的31例行肝动脉搭桥的成人肝移植结果进行回顾行分析。31例需行肝动脉搭桥的原因有微小受者肝动脉、肝动脉血栓症、肝门严重粘连、肝动脉壁间动脉瘤、真菌性肝动脉瘤及前次植入肝的肝动脉因胆道出血而结扎。18例为首次移植，13例为再次或多次肝移植。结果 术后15例（48．4％）存活，平均存活时间为4．1年，16例（51．6％）死亡，平均存活时间为34．56d。两次和多次肝移植者的死亡率为76．9％，首次肝移植者的死亡率为33．3％（P〈0．05）。因肝动脉血栓症而搭桥者的死亡率最高，其次为肝门严重粘连者。死亡原因依次为败血症、围手术期大出血、颅内出血、肝动脉血栓形成、排斥反应、原发病复发以及心跳骤停。结论 成人肝移植行肝动脉搭桥的适应证主要是各种原因导致的受者肝动脉不适用，或因肝门部严重粘连而无法解剖者；患者术后转归与肝移植的次数及患者的术前状况有关。     

Hepatic artery thrombosis after adult living donor liver transplantation: the effect of center volume

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether center volume impacts the rate hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and patient survival after adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT). METHODS: Patients with HAT who were listed as Status 1 in the Organ Procurement Transplant Network database were included in the study. Recipients of ALDLT were compared to those who received a deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT). RESULTS: Recipients of ALDLT had a higher rate of HAT than recipients of DDLT. Centers that performed less than four adult ALDLT had a higher rate of HAT than other higher volume centers. "Novice" centers had a worse graft and patient survival than those with more experience in ALDLT. Recipients who had HAT experienced a worse patient survival than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Centers with higher volume have a lower rate of HAT and a better patient and graft survival in ALDLT. Clearer regulations and focus on overcoming the learning curve might be needed to increase the utilization of ALDLT.     

Hepatic artery thrombosis and liver malignancy in pediatric liver transplantation

BackgroundHepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) remains a significant cause of graft failure and mortality after pediatric liver transplantation. Conditions not associated with hepatic failure, such as liver tumors, may be more prone to thrombotic problems after transplant. We hypothesized that liver transplant for hepatic malignancies may be associated with increased rates of HAT in the posttransplant period.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of pediatric patients (age, 0-21 years) who underwent primary liver transplantation at a free-standing children's hospital from 1990 to 2009. We reviewed cause of underlying liver disease, age, sex, weight, occurrence of HAT, use of antiplatelets and anticoagulants perioperatively, as well as reintervention, retransplant, and death.ResultsA total of 129 children underwent 146 liver transplants, and 15 (12%) patients developed HAT. Nine liver transplants were performed for hepatic malignancy, and 4 (44%) of these patients developed HAT (relative risk, 4.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-12.2; P = .0015). All 4 children with hepatic malignancy and HAT required reintervention, including 3 retransplants (75%). One of these patients died.ConclusionsHepatic artery thrombosis occurs approximately 5 times more often and appears to be more morbid in children with hepatic malignancy after transplantation. Prospective evaluation of prophylactic anticoagulation regimens in the setting of hepatic malignancy requiring transplantation is warranted.     

Early vascular complications after pediatric liver transplantation

Vascular complications have a detrimental effect on the outcome after liver transplantation. Most studies focus exclusively on hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT). The current study analyzed the incidence, consequences, and risk factors for HAT, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and venous outflow tract obstruction (VOTO) in a consecutive series of 157 pediatric liver transplantations. The overall incidence of vascular complications was 21%. The incidences of HAT, PVT, and VOTO were 10%, 4%, and 6%, respectively. Patient survival after PVT and VOTO and graft survival after HAT and PVT were less compared with survival of grafts without vascular complications. To identify risk factors for vascular complications, factors related to recipient, donor, and surgical techniques were analyzed. A low donor-recipient (D/R) age ratio, long surgical time, and use of the proper hepatic artery of the recipient for arterial reconstruction were risk factors for HAT Young age, low weight, segmental grafts, and piggyback technique were risk factors for PVT. Fulminant hepatic failure, high D/R age and weight ratios, and use of segmental grafts were related to VOTO. Vascular complications, which occurred in 21% of the pediatric liver transplantations, had a significant impact on patient and graft survival. Size disparity between donor and recipient was an important risk factor for vascular complications, especially in the case of transplantation of segmental grafts. Patient and graft survival might improve by avoiding the identified risk factors.     

Two-step hepatic artery reconstruction for a hepatic artery lacking in length for the use of a microclamp in living donor liver transplantation

IntroductionWe describe successful two-step hepatic artery reconstruction in a patient whose graft site hepatic artery was too short for the use of a microclamp in living donor liver transplantation.Presentation of caseA 57-year-old woman was diagnosed as having hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis. Her 26-year-old son was the living liver donor. The living donor underwent right lobectomy. The dissected graft hepatic artery was too short for the use of a microclamp. The recipient right hepatic artery was cut and used as an arterial graft. The graft right hepatic artery was sutured to the right hepatic artery of the arterial graft and the graft posterior branch of the right hepatic artery was sutured to the middle hepatic artery of the arterial graft. After reconstruction of the portal vein and hepatic vein was completed, anastomosis was performed between the graft right hepatic artery and right hepatic artery. The patency of the vessels was checked using color Doppler ultrasonography for 1 week postoperatively. No postoperative complications involving blood flow of the hepatic artery were observed.DiscussionIn our case, the recipient hepatic artery was cut and used as an arterial graft. Although the number of anastomotic sites of the hepatic artery increased, we could perform hepatic artery reconstruction safely and easily.ConclusionTwo-step hepatic artery reconstruction is a useful method in cases where the recipient hepatic artery does not have enough length.     

肝移植术后肝动脉血栓形成的预防

目的 探讨肝移植术后肝动脉血栓形成(hepatic artery thrombosis,HAT)的预防.方法 2004年1月至2007年12月我院器官移植科共实施596例成人尸肝移植,自2005年开始采取综合措施预防HAT形成,包括术中重建变异肝动脉,受体肝动脉条件不好的患者采取供体肝动脉与受体腹主动脉搭桥,动脉吻合全部采用显微缝合技术,术后常规监测移植肝血流,对肝动脉峰值流速低于40 cm/s的患者行抗凝治疗.比较2004年实施的181例肝移植患者(A组)与2005-2007年实施的415例肝移植患者(B组)HAT发生情况.结果 A组共有8例患者出现HAT,发生的中位时间为术后11 d(3～41 d),3例表现为急性肝功能恶化,3例表现为胆漏,1例表现为肝脓肿,1例无明显临床症状.B组共有6例患者出现HAT,发生时间为术后8 d(1～21 d),3例表现为急性肝功能恶化,1例表现为胆漏,2例无明显临床症状.B组患者HAT发生率明显低于A组(1.44%vs4.42%,X~2=4.86,P=0.027).A组3例行再次肝移植,共死亡5例,B组3例行肝动脉重建联合肝动脉局部溶栓治疗,2例患者康复出院,1例患者因严重感染、肾功能衰竭死亡.3例患者接受再次肝移植.结论 肝动脉血栓形成是肝移植术后的严重并发症,术中采用显微缝合方式,注意重建变异肝动脉,术后严密监测,及时抗凝治疗可以有效预防肝动脉血栓形成.     

左外区活体肝移植动脉的临床应用解剖研究

目的 观察肝左区肝动脉解剖结构，模拟肝左外区活体肝移植动脉切取方法。方法 解剖非肝病死亡之成人甲醛固定尸体肝脏标本30例，观察新鲜成人尸体肝脏铸型标本30例，测量肝左及左外区动脉长度、管径及属支分布情况。结果 左半肝动脉的血供来自肝固有动脉、肝左动脉、肝中动脉，肝外迷走动脉支有左膈下动脉、胃左动脉和胃右动脉，并于不同部位发出后分别进入左外区上、下段。结论 左半肝动脉主要有5种类型，因此解剖变异较多，左外区活体取肝前应仔细研究其结构特点，设计合理的切取模式；移植前肝动脉需进行必要的整形，以便与受体动脉吻合。