Living donor liver transplantation: early single-center experience

Adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) is an accepted procedure to overcome the organ shortage. The advantages of ALDLT must be balanced against the first concern of donor safety. We analyzed the results of our early experience among a series of eight ALDLT performed between April 2001 and October 2003. All patients were listed as United Network for Organ Sharing UNOS status 2b and 3. Transplant recipients consisted of four men and four women. The living donors included four sons, three daughters, and one son-in-law (ages 20 to 45 years). One donor was anti-HBc-positive and negative for hepatitis B virus-DNA by polymerase chain reaction analysis in serum and in liver tissue. GR/WR >0.8 and fatty liver <10% were considered suitable for the hepatectomy. Residual left lobe volume was at least 33%. No exogenous blood and blood products were transfused into the donors and a cell-saver device was used in all donors (blood loss 490 +/- 160 mL). All procedures were right lobe hepatectomy; in one case the middle hepatic vein was withdrawn with the right graft. The mean ischemia time was 1.5 +/- 0.5 hours. All donors survived the procedure. Median hospital stay was 8.5 +/- 2.1 days in all donors but one who had a long stay because of drug-related hepatitis. One graft was lost and one donor aborted because of preoperative overestimated volumetry. Complications were experienced by two donors (25%). Five recipients (62.5%) experienced major complications; one patient underwent retransplantation because of donor graft loss. Two biliary and two vascular complications (33.3%) occurred in three patients. No perioperative death occurred. Two patients died at 9 and 10 months after transplant because of heart and respiratory failure in the first case and tumor recurrence in the second. One-year actuarial survival is 75%. ALDLT using right lobe has gained acceptance to overcome the organ shortage. Donor selection criteria must be stringent with respect to residual donor hepatic volume, steatosis, and liver function.     

成人活体肝移植71例报道

目的 探讨开展成人活体肝移植初始阶段如何确保供、受者安全.方法 回顾性分析我院2007年4月至11月71例成人活体肝移植供、受者临床资料,分析评估方案、手术策略和并发症.结果 切取供者右半肝68例,其中带肝中静脉4例;切取带肝中静脉左半肝3例.术后出现并发症2例,1例胆漏,1例腹腔内出血,无供者死亡.受者外科并发症18例,其中胆道并发症12例,血管并发症3例,小肝综合征3例;病死率为10%(7/71).结论 在开展成人活体肝移植的初始阶段,采用严格的供、受者评估、选择合理的手术方式和术后处理可以最大程度地保证供、受者安全.     

成人活体肝移植的早期经验

目的 总结成人活体肝移植的早期经验,提高活体肝移植效果.方法 回顾性分析解放军总医院肝移植中心2006年6月至2008年2月31例成人活体肝移植资料.结果 31例中慢性乙型肝炎肝硬化失代偿期8例,急性肝功能衰竭7例,肝细胞肝癌12例,肝脏紫癜病2例,肝门部胆管癌1例和Wilson 病1例.含肝中静脉(middle hepatic vein,MHV)的右半肝移植25例,不含MHV的右半肝移植3例,双供肝为含MHV的右半肝+左外叶和含MHV的右半肝+左半肝各1例,左半肝辅助性原位肝移植1例.33例供者中5例发生并发症6例次.9例受者发生并发症11例次,其中胆道并发症4例,血管并发症3例,感染性并发症3例,切口延迟愈合1例.2例肺部感染和1例全身多处曲霉菌感染者死亡.结论 活体肝移植已成为拓展供肝来源的有效途径,合理的供、受者评估,手术方式和术后处理是关键.     

Donor outcome and liver regeneration after right-lobe graft donation

Sufficiently detailed information on donor safety and the liver regeneration process following right-lobe living donation has been unavailable, so we evaluated donor outcome and liver regeneration in 13 males and 14 females (39.0 +/- 14.8 years old) who provided 27 right-lobe grafts without the middle hepatic vein. Preoperative total liver volume (TLV), graft volume, and postoperative changes in residual liver volume (RLV) were measured by volumetric computed tomography. Histological steatosis of the liver was graded as none, minimal (< or =10%), and mild (11-30%). The median follow-up period was 337 days. Estimated graft volume and actual graft weight were linearly correlated (Y = 177.85 + 0.795X, R(2) = 0.812, P < 0.0001). Graft-to-recipient weight ratio was 1.08 +/- 0.19%. Four donors had postoperative complications, but they resolved in response to conservative treatment. Postoperative hospital stay was 15.2 +/- 5.5 days. Peak liver enzyme values were significantly higher in donors with mild steatosis (n = 7) than without steatosis (n = 16) (P < 0.05). Donor RLV was 40.8 +/- 6.6% of original TLV at surgery, 79.8 +/- 12.0% by 6 months, and 97.2 +/- 10.8% by 12 months. At 3 months the liver of the older donors (> or =50 years) had grown significantly more slowly than in younger donors (70.4 +/- 9.2% vs. 79.3 +/- 9.6%, P = 0.0391). In conclusion, right hepatectomy without middle hepatic vein of living donors is a safe procedure with acceptable morbidity, and the residual liver regenerated to its preoperative size by 1 year. However, meticulous care should be taken in donors with liver steatosis and aged donors.     

Adult right lobe live donor liver transplantation without reconstruction of the middle hepatic vein: a single-center study of 109 cases

We report our experience in adult-to-adult right hepatic lobe living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) using extension of the hepatectomy transection line medially to incorporate the right middle hepatic vein branches into the donor graft. One hundred and nine ALDLT were performed at the University of Colorado from August 1997 to December 2005. Donors were screened preoperatively for hepatic venous anatomy compatible with this technique. Of the 109 ALDLT, the first 10 did not include the right middle hepatic vein branches in the graft. As such, three patients required retransplantation, two from graft loss because of venous congestion. Of the next 99 transplants, only 11 required retransplantation and none because of venous congestion. This approach allows adequate venous outflow through the right hepatic vein more than 1 cm, which is demonstrated by the absence of graft loss from venous congestion and superior graft survival.     

Biliary complications after living donor adult liver transplantation.

The highest rate of complications characterizing the adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) are due to biliary problems with a reported negative incidence of 22-64%. We performed 23 ALDLT grafting segments V-VIII without the middle hepatic vein from March 2001 to September 2005. Biliary anatomy was investigated using intraoperative cholangiography alone in the first five cases and magnetic resonance cholangiography in the remaining 18 cases. In 13 cases we found a single right biliary duct (56.5%) and in 10 we found multiple biliary ducts (43.7%). We performed single biliary anastomosis in 17 cases (73.91%) and double anastomosis in the remaining six (26%) cases. With a mean follow up of 644 days (8-1598 days), patient and graft survivals are 86.95% and 78.26%, respectively. The following biliary complications were observed: biliary leak from the cutting surface: three, anastomotic leak: two, late anastomotic strictures: five, early kinking of the choledochus: one. These 11 biliary complications (47.82%) occurred in eight patients (34.78%). Three of these patients developed two consecutive and different biliary complications. Biliary complications affected our series of ALDLT with a high percentage, but none of the grafts transplanted was lost because of biliary problems. Multiple biliary reconstructions are strongly related with a high risk of complication.     

Role of magnetic resonance cholangiography in assessing biliary anatomy in right lobe living donors

BACKGROUND: The value of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in assessing potential adult-to-adult living liver transplant (ALDLT) donors remains poorly defined. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of MRC in assessing biliary anatomy with intraoperative confirmation. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 30 ALDLT donors who underwent right hepatectomy from October 2000 to July 2003 was evaluated. MRC was performed using a heavily T2 weighted radial slab technique. MRC was interpreted preoperatively by a radiologist and a surgeon and compared with the intraoperative biliary findings in all patients derived from cholangiography (IOC) and bile duct exploration. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MRC for aberrant biliary anatomy were calculated. RESULTS: MRC suggested normal, aberrant, and indeterminate biliary anatomy in 16, 12, and 2 donors, respectively. IOC revealed normal and aberrant biliary anatomy in 17 and 13 patients, respectively. MRC demonstrated biliary anatomy accurately in 27 of 30 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values of MRC in detecting aberrant biliary anatomy were 92%, 100%, 100%, and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative MRC accurately depicts biliary anatomy in potential ALDLT donors and may guide the intraoperative management of the biliary tract.     

成人间活体肝移植右半肝移植物切取的临床分析

目的：探讨成人间活体肝移植供体右半肝切取的技术。方法：8例成人间活体肝移植行供体右半肝切取，供肝切取范围：右半肝5例、扩大右半肝3例。供肝保留直径0.8cm以上的副右肝静脉。右半肝切除线在中肝静脉的右侧0.5~1.0cm处，扩大右半肝切除线在中肝静脉左侧0.5~1.0cm处。行术中胆道造影，在切取过程中不阻断入肝血流。结果：供体平均手术时间为448（353~510）min。供体手术平均失血量为384 （170 ~900 ）ml。切取的移植物平均重669.4（445~900）g，其中右半肝移植物平均重667.0g，扩大右半肝移植物平均重673.3g。移植物与受体体重之比平均为1.16%（0.76%~1.50%）。供体术后发生胆漏、肝肾功能不全各1例，经治疗后均痊愈。全组无手术死亡，均于3周内恢复出院。8例移植物和8例受体的1年生存率均为100%。结论：熟练掌握精良的供肝切取技术，成人活体肝移植中右半肝和扩大右半肝的切取对供体来说是安全的。     

Variations of hepatic veins: helical computerized tomography experience in 100 consecutive living liver donors with emphasis on right lobe

Anatomical variations in the venous system of liver are not a rarity. A prospective helical computerized tomography (CT) study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of surgically significant hepatic venous anatomic variations among 100 consecutive living liver donors. The studies evaluated the ramification pattern of hepatic veins, the presence of accessory hepatic veins, and of segment 5 or 8 veins (or both) draining into middle hepatic vein. These data obtained by CT influenced surgical planning. Sixty-four donors donated their right lobes and 24 donors, left lateral segments. Only one donor candidate was refused due to combined hepatic and portal venous variations accompanied by multiple bile ducts. Eleven donors were also refused due to reasons other than anatomical variations. Seventeen segment 5 and 17 segment 8 veins draining into middle hepatic vein were anastomosed to inferior vena cava in 23 (36%) of the right lobe liver transplantations. The middle hepatic vein was harvested in only one of the donors. Among the 100 cases, 47 had accessory right inferior hepatic veins, 13 of which were multiple. Twenty-two of the right lobe grafts required surgical anastomoses of these accessory hepatic veins (34%). An isolated hepatic vein anomaly or the presence of accessory hepatic veins are not contraindications to be a living liver donor candidate. However, preoperative knowledge of vascular variations alters surgical management. Helical CT is a valuable tool to delineate the hepatic venous anatomy for surgical planning in living liver donors.     

腹腔镜肝左外叶供肝获取术中供肝血管影像学解剖特征及其临床意义

目的探讨腹腔镜肝左外叶供肝获取术中供肝血管的影像学解剖特征及临床意义。方法采用回顾性描述性研究方法。收集2016年10月至2018年12月复旦大学附属华山医院收治的39例活体肝移植供者的临床资料;男10例,女29例;年龄为(31±7)岁。同时收集39例活体肝移植受者的临床资料;男26例,女13例;年龄为8个月(4~68个月)。供者术前常规行腹部增强X线计算机体层摄影术检查、三维血管重建判断供肝血管解剖情况。供者均施行腹腔镜肝左外叶供肝获取术。观察指标:(1)术前影像学检查三维血管重建情况。(2)手术情况。(3)随访情况。采用门诊方式对受者进行随访,了解受者肝移植后并发症情况。随访时间截至2019年10月。正态分布的计量资料以±s表示,组间比较采用t检验。偏态分布的计量资料以M(范围)表示。计数资料以绝对数或百分比表示。结果(1)术前影像学检查三维血管重建情况。39例供者术前影像学检查三维血管重建显示肝动脉和肝静脉解剖学特征包括:①肝动脉情况为11例供者存在肝中动脉,其中5例起始于肝右动脉,3例起始于肝右动脉和肝左动脉汇合处,3例起始于肝左动脉。2例供者肝左动脉解剖变异,均存在副肝左动脉,起始于胃左动脉。26例供者无肝中动脉,肝左动脉无解剖变异。②肝静脉情况:9例供者肝左静脉和肝中静脉分别汇入下腔静脉。7例供者存在肝左静脉左上缘支。23例供者肝左静脉与肝中静脉共干汇入下腔静脉。(2)手术情况。①39例供者均成功施行腹腔镜肝左外叶供肝获取术,手术时间为(160±32)min,术中出血量为(142±74)mL。②11例有肝中动脉供者中,8例为肝左动脉优势型,留取肝左动脉用于肝移植术中肝动脉吻合重建,3例肝中动脉起始于肝左动脉,留取肝左动脉和肝中动脉共干用于肝移植术中肝动脉吻合重建。2例肝左动脉解剖变异供者中,1例为副肝左动脉优势型,1例为肝左动脉优势型,分别留取副肝左动脉和肝左动脉用于肝移植术中肝动脉吻合重建。其余26例供者留取肝左动脉用于肝移植术中肝动脉吻合重建。③39例供者中,11例术中行肝左静脉优先入路,28例术中行非肝左静脉优先入路。肝左静脉优先入路供者手术时间和术中出血量分别为(147±22)min和(110±44)mL,非肝左静脉优先入路供者上述指标分别为(169±33)min和(154±81)mL,两者上述指标比较,差异均有统计学意义(t=4.19,2.81,P<0.05)。(3)随访情况。39例受者均获得术后10个月的随访,随访期间未出现肝动脉吻合口出血、狭窄,以及由肝动脉供血不良引起的缺血性胆管损伤和胆道狭窄等并发症,也未出现肝静脉流出道狭窄相关并发症。结论腹腔镜肝左外叶供肝获取术前影像学检查三维血管重建可发现肝中动脉和肝左动脉解剖变异,指导手术入路的选择。腹腔镜肝左外叶供肝获取术对于符合条件的供者推荐采用肝左静脉优先入路,可缩短手术时间、减少术中出血量。     

Total and segmental liver volume variations: implications for liver surgery

BACKGROUND: Liver remnant volumes after major hepatic resection and graft volumes for liver transplantation correlate with surgical outcome. The relative contributions of the hepatic segments to total liver volume (TLV) are not well established. METHODS: TLV and hepatic segment volumes were measured with computed tomography (CT) in 102 patients without liver disease who underwent CT for conditions unrelated to the liver or biliary tree. RESULTS: TLV ranged from 911 to 2729 cm(3). On average, the right liver (segments V, VI, VII, and VIII) contributed approximately two thirds of TLV (997+/-279 cm(3)), and the left liver (segments II, III and IV) contributed approximately one third of TLV (493+/-127 cm(3)). Bisegment II+III (left lateral section) contributed about half the volume of the left liver (242+/-79 cm(3)), or 16% of TLV. Liver volumes varied significantly between patients--the right liver varied from 49% to 82% of TLV, the left liver, 17% to 49% of TLV, and bisegment II+III (left lateral section) 5% to 27% of TLV. Bisegment II+III contributed less than 20% of TLV in more than 75% of patients and the left liver contributed 25% or less of TLV in more than 10% of patients. DISCUSSION: There is clinically significant interpatient variation in hepatic volumes. Therefore, in the absence of appreciable hypertrophy, we recommend routine measurement of the future liver remnant before extended right hepatectomy (right trisectionectomy) and in selected patients before right hepatectomy if a small left liver is anticipated.     

Adult-to-adult live-donor liver transplantation: the current status

Adult-to-adult live-donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) has emerged successfully to partially relieve the refractory shortage of deceased donor grafts caused by the increasing demands of patients with endstage liver diseases. Following the first successful live-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for a child with biliary atresia in 1989, further extension of the technique, using left-lobe liver grafts for LDLT for large adolescents and adults, has resulted in satisfactory graft and patient survival outcomes. However, small-for-size syndrome may occur in some patients with large body size, and in those with acute-on-chronic liver failure or severe portal hypertension. To overcome the problem of graft-to-body-size mismatch, ALDLT, using a right-lobe liver graft was developed. Although routine inclusion of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) in the right-lobe liver graft is still controversial, the importance of providing good venous drainage for the right anterior sector to ensure better early graft function has gained wide recognition. Preservation of the MHV in the donor is intuitively considered important in reducing the donor risk. However, there are scarce data supporting the contention that postoperative complication is related to the absence of the MHV in the left-liver remnant. Duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction has potential advantages over hepaticojejunostomy, and has become the preferred technique in ALDLT. However, biliary complications, especially biliary strictures on long-term follow-up, occur in about 30% of the recipients. The potential beneficial effect of internal or external biliary drainage in reducing the biliary complication rate after duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction in ALDLT also remains controversial. Dual-liver grafts and right-posterior sector grafts have been used in ALDLT, and are reported to result in satisfactory survival outcomes at selected transplant centers. There is no strong evidence supporting the postulate that patients with hepatitis C infection have an inferior survival outcome after ALDLT when compared with recipients of a deceased-donor liver transplant. ALDLT has contributed to satisfactory survival outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It allows early surgery for the patients and eliminates the uncertainty of prolonged waiting for a deceased-donor liver graft, and the risks of dropout related to disease progression. The exact selection criteria of patients with HCC for ALDLT have yet to be defined.     

Effect of side and size of graft on surgical outcomes of adult-to-adult live donor liver transplantation.

By virtue of size, the right liver graft has become the workhorse of adult-to-adult live donor liver transplantation (ALDLT). Although favorable results of left liver ALDLT have also been reported, a head-to-head comparison of these 2 graft types both containing the middle hepatic vein had not been made. In this study, we compared the outcomes of 29 right liver and 16 left liver ALDLTs of comparable graft weight to recipient estimated standard liver volume ratio (GW/ESLV, 36.9% and 36.4%, respectively). All liver grafts contained the middle hepatic vein. The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and urgency for transplantation of both groups were similar. Postoperatively, left liver donors had significantly lower international normalized ratios and serum total bilirubin levels and no complications. Although the rate of return of international normalized ratios for recipients of both groups were comparable, left liver recipients had significantly higher serum total bilirubin and serum aminotransferase levels. Intensive care unit stay of the left liver recipients was longer than that of the right liver recipients (8.5 days versus 4 days, P = 0.007). Hospital mortality was 6.9% (2/29) for the right liver group and 18.8% (3/16) for the left liver group (P = 0.330). Safety profile of donor left hepatectomy was higher. However, despite similar GW/ESLV, the more arduous recovery and higher mortality rate of left liver recipients raise the caution of assuming the gram-to-gram equivalence of right and left liver grafts.     

Liver transplant donor candidates: associations between vascular and biliary anatomic variants.

Our objective was to investigate the coexistence of vascular and biliary anatomic variants, the latter of which are known to increase the risk of biliary complications in living liver donor transplantation. A total of 108 consecutive liver donor candidates were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that included 2 MR cholangiography methods, T2-weighted MR cholangiography and mangofodipir-enhanced T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D) MR cholangiography, as well as gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography and venography of the liver. Images were interpreted by at least 2 investigators in consensus for definition of hepatic arterial, portal venous, and biliary anatomy. A subset of 51 subjects underwent laparotomy for right hepatectomy. Of the 108 subjects examined, 50 (46%) demonstrated normal hepatic artery, portal vein, and biliary anatomy. Variants of the hepatic artery were found in 27 of 108 (25%) subjects, of the portal vein in 12 of 108 (11%) subjects, and of the bile ducts in 30 of 108 (28%) subjects. Of the 27 subjects with hepatic arterial variants, 8 (30%) also had variant biliary anatomy. The association between hepatic arterial variants and biliary variants was not statistically significant (P >.5). However, of the 12 subjects with portal vein variants, 7 (58%) had biliary variants, and in 6 of 7 cases, the right posterior hepatic duct was anomalous. By chi-square analysis, the association between portal venous and biliary variants was significant (P =.012). In conclusion, over half of subjects with portal vein variants were found to have anomalous biliary anatomy, which always involved the hepatic ducts of the right lobe. The association between portal venous and biliary variants is statistically significant, while there is no significant association between hepatic arterial and biliary variants.     

Correlation between 3D-MRCP and intra-operative findings in right liver donors

A correct preoperative definition of the hepatic duct confluence anatomy of right liver living donors is a pivotal step in determining their candidacy for donation and planning the surgery. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the accuracy of three-dimensional Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography (3D MRCP) when compared with intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) in assessing biliary anatomy and to identify imaging characteristics that may help predict the yield of hepatic duct orifices in the right liver graft. Twenty consecutive right liver donors were imaged with 3D MRCP and IOC. The MRCP and IOC findings were compared, and the results confirmed against actual donor anatomy. Three-D MRCP accurately predicted the biliary anatomy in 18 of 20 cases. Specificity and positive predictive value of 3D MRCP in defining normal biliary anatomy was 100%. In 2 patients, 3D MRCP failed to indentify abnormal anatomy. The yield of more than one hepatic duct was associated with: (I) The presence of abnormal biliary anatomy, (II) The length of the main right hepatic duct, and (III) The presence of an acute angle at the confluence of right and left hepatic duct. In conclusion, 3D MRCP reliably represents normal biliary anatomy. The presence of anatomical variations decreases MRCP sensitivity and makes IOC or duct probing a necessary tool for accurately performing the transection of the right hepatic duct.Key Words: Cholangiogram, liver transplantation, live donors, preoperative evaluation, magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreaticogram (MRCP)     

Right lobe living donor liver transplantation-addressing the middle hepatic vein controversy

OBJECTIVE: To describe our approach in the decision-making for taking the middle hepatic vein with the graft or leaving it with the remnant liver in right lobe live donor liver transplantation. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Right lobe living donor liver transplantation has been successfully performed. However, the extent of donor hepatectomy is still a subject of debate and the main considerations in the decision making are graft functional adequacy and donor safety. METHODS: An algorithm based on donor-recipient body weight ratio, right lobe-to-recipient standard liver volume estimate, and donor hepatic venous anatomy was used to decide the extent of donor hepatectomy. This algorithm was applied in 25 living donor liver transplant operations performed between January 1999 and January 2002. In grafts taken without the middle hepatic vein, anterior segment tributaries draining into it were not reconstructed. Outcomes between right lobe liver transplants with (Group I) and without (Group II) the middle hepatic vein were compared. RESULTS: Ten grafts included the middle hepatic vein and 15 did not. The mean graft to recipient standard liver volume ratio was 58% and 64% in Groups I and II, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. Donors from both groups had comparable recovery, with 2 complications, 1 from each group, requiring a percutaneous drainage procedure. The recipient outcomes were, likewise, comparable and there was 1 case of structural outflow obstruction in Group I, which required venoangioplasty and stenting. There were 2 recipient mortalities, 1 due to a biliary complication and the other to recurrent hepatitis C. Another patient required retransplantation for secondary biliary cirrhosis. The overall actuarial graft and patient survival rates are 84% and 96%, respectively, at a median follow-up of 16 months. CONCLUSION: Based on certain preoperative criteria, a right lobe graft can be taken with or without the middle hepatic vein with equally successful outcomes in both the donors and recipients. The decision, therefore, of the extent of right lobe donor hepatectomy should be tailored to the particular conditions of each case.     

Excellent Outcome in 238 Consecutive Living Donor Liver Transplantations Using the Right Liver Graft in a Large Volume Single Center

Background

Using a right liver (RL) graft improves the outcomes in adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT). Here we report the recent excellent outcomes of 238 consecutive RL transplantations in ALDLT.

Methods

Between January 2005 and June 2009, 238 consecutive adult recipients underwent RL transplantation; The middle hepatic vein (MHV) was reconstructed using artificial vascular grafts in 209 cases. Among these study subjects, UNOS status 1 and 2A were 12 (5.0 %) and 20 (8.4 %) patients, and the mean medical MELD score, was 19.9. Hepatitis B virus was the most common original liver disease in 184 patients (77.3 %). Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed in 133 patients (56.3 %), and 102 patients (76.1 %) met the radiologic Milan criteria. The mean graft-versus-recipient weight ratio was 1.14 %. The primary endpoint of this study was the patient and graft survival rate. The mean follow-up period was 32 (0–69) months.

Results

The most common major complication was biliary complication (n = 62; 26 %). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year patient survival rates were 96, 95, and 94 %, and the graft survival rates were 99, 99, and 98 %. There were 4 hospital deaths (1.6 %). Eighteen late mortalities were observed after recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n = 17) and one case of lymphoma recurrence. One case of graft failure 33 months after ALDLT was attributed to cholestatic fibrosing hepatitis B saved by re-ALDLT. On multivariate analysis, no drainage of MHV branches and accompanying HCC beyond Milan criteria were the risk factors for poor patients’ survival rate (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Further technical innovation would be required to overcome biliary complications. The technical innovation using right liver draining MHV branches improved both patient and graft survival outcomes of ALDLT. Despite these advances, selection criteria for HCC are still hurdles, even in RL transplantation.     

Anatomic variations in right liver living donors

BACKGROUND: Anatomic knowledge is crucial in right liver living donor transplantation. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed radiologic and surgical findings in right liver donors. Arterial and portal anatomy was assessed in 96 donors, biliary anatomy in 77, and hepatic venous anatomy in 65. RESULTS: Portal vein (PV): 86.4% had classic anatomy; 6.3% had a trifurcated PV; 7.3% had a right anterior PV taken off the left PV. Hepatic artery (HA): 70.8% had classic anatomy; 12.5% had a left HA arising from the left gastric artery; 13.5% had a right HA arising from the superior mesenteric artery; 2.1% had a double replaced left HA and right HA; and in 1.0% the common HA arose from the superior mesenteric artery. Biliary tree: 55.8% had normal anatomy; 14.3% had a trifurcated biliary anatomy; in 5.2% the right anterior bile duct and in 15.6% the right posterior bile duct opened into the left bile duct; in 2.6% the right anterior and in 6.5% the right posterior ducts opened into the common bile duct. Hepatic veins: S5 and S8 accessory hepatic veins had incidences of 43% and 49%, respectively. The incidence of S6 or S7 short hepatic vein was 38%. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomic variations are common but do not contraindicate donation; surgeons should be prepared to recognize and manage them.     

Surgical management of anatomical variations of the right lobe in living donor liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To review the anatomical variations of the right lobe encountered in 40 living liver donors, describe the surgical management of these variations, and summarize the results of these procedures. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Anatomical variability is the rule rather than the exception in liver and biliary surgery. To make effective use of liver segments from living donors for transplantation, surgical techniques must be adapted to the anomalies. METHODS: Donor evaluation included celiac and mesenteric angiography with portal phase, magnetic resonance angiography, and intraoperative ultrasonography and cholangiography. Arterial anastomoses were generally between the donor right hepatic artery and the recipient main hepatic artery. Jump-grafts were constructed for recipients with hepatic artery thrombosis, and double donor arteries were joined to the bifurcation of the recipient hepatic artery. The branches of a trifurcated donor portal vein were isolated during the parenchymal transection, joined in a common cuff, and anastomosed to the recipient main portal vein. Significant accessory hepatic veins were preserved, brought together in a common cuff if multiple, and anastomosed to the recipient cava. The bile ducts were individually drained through a Roux-en-Y limb, and stents were placed in most patients. RESULTS: Forty right lobe liver transplants were performed between adults. No donor was excluded because of prohibitive anatomy. Seven recipients had a prior transplant and five had a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Arterial anomalies were noted in six donors and portal anomalies in four. Arterial jump-grafts were required in three. Sixteen had at least one significant accessory hepatic vein, and one had a double right hepatic vein. There were no vascular complications. Multiple bile ducts were found in 27 donors. Biliary complications occurred in 33% of patients without stents and 4% with stents. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical variations of the right lobe can be accommodated without donor complications or complex reconstruction. Previous transplantation and TIPS do not significantly complicate right lobe transplantation. Microvascular arterial anastomosis is not necessary, and vascular complications should be infrequent. Biliary complications can be minimized with stenting.     

活体右半供肝Ⅴ和Ⅷ段静脉回流的重建方法

目的 总结活体右半供肝移植中,不含肝中静脉的右半供肝Ⅴ、Ⅷ段静脉回流的重建方法.方法 回顾性分析55例活体右半供肝移植中,不含肝中静脉的右半供肝Ⅴ、Ⅷ段静脉回流重建的临床资料.所有供者均通过了受者标准肝体积、供肝与受者体重比(GRWR)、供肝与受者标准肝体积比及供肝内血管解剖等指标的综合评估.供肝在切取、灌注及修整后,51例采用尸体髂静脉作为重建材料,其他4例分别采用受者的大隐静脉、曲张的脐静脉、肝内门静脉和肝静脉作为重建材料,以串联的方式重建供肝断面Ⅴ、Ⅷ段静脉回流.肝移植时,供肝肝右静脉与受者肝右静脉开口吻合,重建的Ⅴ、Ⅷ段静脉与受者肝中、肝左静脉汇合部吻合,供肝门静脉与受者门静脉右支或主干吻合.门静脉开放血流后依次重建肝动脉及胆道.术后对供、受者进行常规监测.结果 1例受者术后发生流出道梗阻,术后第43天死亡;1例受者术后第7天出现不明原因的急性重型肝组织坏死,行尸体供肝肝移植后痊愈.其余53例受者恢复顺利,术后4周时腹部CT检查显示重建的移植肝Ⅴ、Ⅷ段静脉回流通畅.55例供者术后均恢复顺利,术后2周出院.结论 不含肝中静脉的活体右半供肝Ⅴ、Ⅷ段静脉回流的重建在活体肝移植中是可行的,应选择合适的重建材料及手术方式.受者肝移植后临床效果良好.