Results in split liver transplantation

INTRODUCTION: The shortage in cadaveric grafts has prompted the development of alternative surgical techniques to expand the donor pool. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of split liver transplantation using an observational, retrospective, and longitudinal study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1986 and October 2002 we performed 875 liver transplants. From April 1991 to date, we performed 18 split liver transplantations in patients of mean age 42.27+/-25.65 years; five children and 13 adults; and 83.3% women. Urgent transplants accounted for 38.9%. Mean patient weight was 52.29+/-20.87 kg. Ex situ splitting was performed in 33%. The mean cold ischemia time was 460+/-265.69 minutes with a mean warm time of 64.33+/-11.78 minutes. Mean consumption of packed blood was 5.59+/-4.87 units; of frozen fresh plasma, 11.56+/-7.42 units; and of platelets 4.89+/-4.99 units. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 10.83+/-12.51 months, 55.56% of the recipients are alive. Actuarial patient and graft survival rates at 1 year are 55.6% and 44.12%, respectively. Actuarial patient and graft survival rates at 1 year, excluding operative mortality were 77% and 68%, respectively. Actuarial patient and graft survival rates at 1 year, comparing urgent and elective transplantations are: 14.29 and 14%, respectively, for urgent cases and 90.91 and 90% for elective ones. Operative mortality was 16.6% while mortality during follow-up was 26.6%. The late complications included arterial thrombosis (n=2): of whom the first needed liver retransplantation 4 months after split liver transplantation; chronic rejection (n=2), recurrence of hepatitis (n=1). CONCLUSIONS: Split liver transplantation is a useful way to expand the graft pool and shows better results in elective liver transplantation.     

劈离式肝移植围手术期管理

在肝源短缺的背景下,劈离式肝移植实现了“一肝两用”的目的,有效缓解了供肝短缺的现状,具有较大的发展前景。且随着肝移植手术技术的进步,劈离式肝移植可获得接近全肝移植的预后。但劈离式肝移植围手术期管理仍面临着诸多挑战,其技术要求更高,发生并发症的风险较大,并有可能将1个高质量的供肝转化为2个边缘供肝,影响肝移植手术的开展。本文就术前评估、受者管理及术后并发症管理等方面探讨劈离式肝移植的围手术期管理,为促进临床劈离式肝移植的发展,改善劈离式肝移植受者预后提供参考。     

劈离式肝移植术后胆管并发症

目的 探讨体外劈离式肝移植术后胆管并发症的危险因素及其防治措施.方法 2006年6月至2010年9月,我院共施行劈离式肝移植术33例,其中1例于术后10 d死亡,予以排除.其余32例患者中男性18例,女性14例,平均年龄33.4岁(6个月～65岁).胆管重建方式胆管端端吻合20例,胆肠吻合12例.胆管并发症的诊断依靠T管造影、经皮经肝胆管造影(PTC)、经内镜逆行胆胰管造影、磁共振胰胆管造影(MRCP)等方法.胆管并发症定义为存在需要外科、介入、内镜等方法治疗的胆漏或胆管狭窄.结果 受者中位随访时间13.5个月(3～54个月).32例患者中11例患者发生12次胆管并发症(37.5％),其中肝断面胆漏3例(9.3％),胆管吻合口漏4例(12.5％),左肝管残端漏1例(3.1％),胆管吻合口狭窄1例(3.1％),缺血性胆管狭窄3例(9.3％).8例发生胆漏的受者中6例经手术或穿刺放置引流后痊愈,2例因腹腔内感染死亡.单因素分析表明,移植物类型、胆管重建方式等均不是肝断面胆漏的危险因素.结论 与全肝移植和活体肝移植相比,劈离式肝移植术后胆管并发症尤其是胆漏更为常见.进一步防治胆管并发症是改善劈离式肝移植预后的重要因素.     

Extended right split liver graft for primary transplantation in children and adults.

Skepticism remains about the use of the extended right (ER) split graft (segments I, IV-VIII) for adult liver transplantation. We analyzed the results of primary liver transplantation performed with an ER graft in adult and in pediatric recipients. At our Institution, between October 1997 and June 2005, 32 primary liver transplantations with an ER graft were performed in 22 adult and 10 pediatric recipients. All the splitting procedures were performed in situ. Actuarial patient and graft survival among the adult recipients of the ER graft were 100% and 100% at 1 year, and 94% and 94% at 5 years. In the pediatric recipients, patient and graft survival were 90% and 79% both at 1 and 5 years. No hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in the adult group, while in the pediatric recipients HAT occurred in two cases. A higher biliary morbidity occurred in the ER graft group when compared with the whole size graft 34% versus 13% (P = 0.03). However, this did not affect patient and graft survival. The results of this study may represent a further argument in favor of extensive splitting of all suitable grafts.     

劈离式肝移植技术的临床应用

目前,临床肝移植存在供肝短缺、等待肝移植患者数量日益增加、缺乏匹配的供者等困难,部分儿童和成人患者接受肝移植手术的机会渺茫,同时也限制了肝移植的进一步发展。在此背景下,劈离式肝移植应运而生,其将1个供肝供给2例及多例受者移植,有效增加了供肝的利用率,缓解了供肝短缺的矛盾。随着劈离式肝移植技术越发成熟,其存活率可与全肝移植相当,许多移植中心也已将劈离式肝移植作为常规手术方式。本文就劈离式肝移植技术的发展、供受者的选择与匹配、供肝的劈离与重建技术及术后并发症做一综述,以期为临床劈离式肝移植的进一步发展提供参考,增加更多终末期肝病患者接受肝移植的机会。     

劈离式肝移植术后移植肝再生的研究

目的研究劈离式肝移植术后移植肝组织的再生规律。方法通过CT检查计算劈离式肝移植术后4例受体在不同时间点的肝体积变化,并检查患者移植术后肝功能。结果受体1术后4个月、1年时肝体积分别是标准体积的114%、97%,肝体积再生率为-11·0%、-24·3%;受体2术后4个月、1年肝体积分别是标准体积的96%、100%,肝体积再生率为24·4%、30·0%。受体3术后2个月肝体积是标准体积的86%,肝体积再生率为12·0%;受体4术后2个月肝体积是标准体积的90%,肝体积再生率为20·0%。4例受体术后肝功能均恢复正常。结论劈离式肝移植供肝有较强的再生能力,能满足受体的代谢需要。     

劈离式肝移植中供肝分离的手术经验

目的探讨劈离式肝移植中供肝分离的手术经验。方法自2004年3月1日至9月1日，共计施行了10例体外供肝的劈离，将其分为左肝外侧叶（Ⅱ、Ⅲ段）和扩大右半肝（Ⅰ、Ⅳ～Ⅷ段）两部分，并为19位病人施行了劈离式肝移植。供体的平均年龄为32．7岁（15～51岁），平均体重64．5kg（45-75kg），ICU平均救治时间为2．4d（1～8d）。结果劈离前整体供肝和劈离后左肝外侧叶的平均重量分别为1322．6g（956～1665g）和281．8g（198～373g），后者与前者的平均比值为0．215（0．178～0．274）。左肝外侧叶部分的移植物与受体重量比（GRWR）的平均值为2．44％（1．22％～5．41％），而扩大右半肝部分GRWR的平均值为1．73％（1．31％～2．30％）。供肝劈离平均花费的时间为105min（85-135min）。共出现5例解剖变异，包括左肝静脉变异2例、肝动脉变异2例、胆管变异1例。结论劈离式肝移植已经成为扩大供肝来源的一种成熟的外科技术，且效果满意。在供肝劈离中需要正确应对各种可能的解剖变异，尤其是左肝静脉、左肝动脉和胆管的变异。     

Hepatic flow optimization in full right split liver transplantation

Split liver transplantation for two adults offers a valuable opportunity to expand the donor pool for adult recipients.However,its application is mainly hampered by the physiological limits of these partial grafts.Small for size syndrome is a major concern during transplantation with partial graft and different techniques have been developed in living donor liver transplantation to prevent the graft dysfunction.Herein,we report the first application of synergic approaches to optimise the hepatic hemodynamic in a split liver graft for two adults. A Caucasian woman underwent liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis(MELD 21)with a full right liver graft (S5-S8)without middle hepatic vein.Minor and accessory inferior hepatic veins were preserved by splitting the vena cava;V5 and V8 were anastomosed with a donor venous iliac patch.After implantation,a 16G catheter was advanced in the main portal trunk.Inflow modulation was achieved by splenic artery ligation.Intraportal infusion of PGE1 was started intraoperatively and discontinued after 5 d.Graft function was immediate withnormalization of liver test after 7 d.Nineteen months after transplantation,liver function is normal and graft volume is 110%of the recipient standard liver volume. Optimisation of the venous outflow,inflow modulation and intraportal infusion of PGE1 may represent a valuable synergic strategy to prevent the graft dysfunction and it may increase the safety of split liver graft for two adults.     

中叶供肝肝移植的可行性动物实验研究

目的：探索肝中叶作为独立供肝进行移植的可行性,以进一步拓宽供肝来源。
方法：普通级健康犬分成供体组（n=12,20~25 kg）和受体组（n=12,10~15 kg）,供受体随机配对。供体手术将位于中央区的方叶、右中叶在体内劈离,原位灌注后保留其专属的门静脉中支、肝中动脉和中肝管,得到独立的中央区供肝并称重。受体手术先建立临时性门腔分流,供肝背驮式植入,流出口和腔静脉壁端侧吻合,供肝门静脉中支和受体门静脉主干行端端吻合后恢复新肝血流,重建动脉和胆管。术后观察受体腹腔及胆汁引流,每日检测肝功能,死亡后行尸检,移植物取标本行病理检查。
结果：犬肝被深陷的叶间裂分隔成7叶,各叶间由较少的肝桥连接,方叶和右中叶由门静脉中支、中肝动脉营养血回流至肝中静脉,胆汁引流至中肝管。供体组体内劈离技术全部得以完成,手术时间（215.0±67.7）min,失血量（229.3±66.5）mL。比较GRWR,中央区供肝[（1.3±0.3）%]和假设的左侧区供肝的[（2.1±0.4）%]及右侧区供肝的[（0.9±0.1）%]之间差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.01）。受体组手术时间（327.6±75.3）min,无肝期（33.6±7.5）min,失血量（415.5±79.8）mL。12个供肝均成功植入,冷缺血时间为（41.9±12.1）min,（8.3±3.6）min后排泌胆汁。受体肝功能指标在术后第1天发生明显变化,随后逐渐恢复,中位存活时间92.5（18~272）h,未发现有因吻合口出血、血栓等外科技术性并发症而死亡受体。
结论：犬动物模型证实肝中央区可以劈离出来作为一个独立的供肝器官,为将来拓宽供肝来源提供了另外一种思路。     

Domino and split liver transplantation: technical problems

Because the shortage of donor livers has been the rate-limiting factor in the expansion of liver transplantation, several innovative techniques including reduced, split, and living donor liver transplantation have been developed to expand the relatively constant pool of organs. Domino liver transplantation, which was first reported from Portugal in 1995, has been performed worldwide and allows a donor organ to be used for a subsequent graft in a second liver recipient. Domino liver transplantation involves specific ethical and technical problems. The most important ethical problem in the procedure is the use of a diseased liver (e.g., familial amyloid polyneuropathy [FAP]) for a second recipient. Furthermore, the safety of the first recipient (FAP patient) should be the primary consideration. From the technical point of view, the management of short vascular cuffs is important, especially in domino liver transplantation from a living donor. The results of split liver transplantation have significantly improved and it is now recognized as an ideal method to expand the donor pool, especially for small children. Either the ex vivo or in vivo technique can be used with comparable results.     

Results of liver transplantation according to indications for orthotopic liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the results of liver transplantation in patients with a variety of different indications. METHODS: From 1989 to April 2003, 209 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLTx) were performed on 196 patients, including 178 cases. The diagnoses were: PBC (n = 34); PSC (n = 13); elective postinflammatory cirrhosis in the course of hepatitis C (n = 29); hepatitis B (n = 16); postalcoholic cirrhosis (n = 23), autoimmune cirrhosis (n = 11); Wilson's disease (n = 6); cirrhosis of unknown etiology (n = 10); secondary biliary cirrhosis (n = 5); Budd-Chiari syndrome (n = 6); and benign liver neoplasms (n = 7). RESULTS: The 3-year survival rate in the group of patients transplanted electively was 74.1%. In other groups it was: PBC, 91.4%; PSC, 69.2%; hepatitis C, 69.6%; hepatitis B, 55.5%; postalcoholic cirrhosis, 80%; autoimmune cirrhosis, 81.8%; Wilson's disease, 57.1%; secondary biliary cirrhosis, 40%; Budd-Chiari syndrome, 66.6%; hemochromatosis, 100%; benign neoplasms of the liver, 87.5%; and liver cysts, 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Results of liver transplantation were closely related to the urgency of the procedure. Better results were achieved in patients operated upon routinely compared with in those operated upon emergently (74.1% vs 50%). The best results of liver transplantation were achieved in patients transplanted on a routine basis with a diagnosis of PBC (91.4%), autoimmunologic cirrhosis (81.1%), postalcoholic cirrhosis (80%), or hemochoromatosis (100%). Patients with liver insufficiency due to hepatitis B and Wilson's disease have an increased risk of graft destruction, and the rate of survival in these patients is significantly lower than in other patients.     

Reduced size liver transplantation,split liver transplantation,and living related liver transplantation in relation to the donor organ shortage

Because of the shortage of cadaveric donors, three techniques of partial liver grarting have been developed. These techniques are placed in perspective in relation to the organ shortage. Reduced size liver transplantation (RSLTx) is widely used and has results comparable to those from whole liver grafting. However, this technique, while benefitting pediatric patients, reduces the adult donor liver pool. It also makes inefficient use of an available adult donor liver. In split liver transplantation (SPLTx), the whole liver is used after bipartition for two recipients. The results are comparable to those of RSLTx. The problem with SPLTx is that it is a very demanding technique applied only in centers with extensive experience with liver resection and reduction. Living related liver transplantation (LRLTx) yields excellent results; however, it places an otherwise healthy person at risk. It is argued that instead of performing risky operations on healthy persons, the health authorities should take specific measures to alleviate the organ shortage. In the meantime, SPLTx should be developed further because of its optimal use of donor tissue. As for LRLTx, its excellent results and the present shortage of size-matched pediatric liver donors justify its use, at least for now.     

Cadaveric small bowel/split liver transplantation in a child

Scarcity of size-matched grafts continues to be a major limiting factor for liver and combined liver/intestinal transplants in the pediatric population. It is reported that 29 % of pediatric patients listed for hepatic transplantation die while waiting for a donor. The reported mortality of pediatric patients awaiting intestinal transplantation is about 40 %. We report on a technique of segmental liver and intestinal transplantation in a child. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a combined split liver-intestinal transplantation. We used a cadaveric donor, but the technique can also be performed with a live donor. The adult recipient of one segment of the liver was discharged home without complications. The child who received the combined liver intestinal graft developed intestinal perforation and severe rejection and died. If this technique is applied successfully, the adverse effects and mortality of a long pretransplant waiting period in pediatric patients may be avoided. Received: 7 May 1998 Received after revision: 29 September 1998 Accepted: 12 October 1998     

Orthotopic liver transplantation in children

Ten children, aged 3 to 16 years, were part of a group of 61 patients who received liver transplants at University Hospital in London, Canada between November 1982 and April 1986. All of the children received cyclosporine in combination with other agents for immunosuppression. Two children died of rejection, one child died from a lymphoma, and one child died from a hypoxic brain injury sustained during a respiratory arrest. Six children are currently alive from 4 months to 2 1/2 years following transplantation. All of the survivors have returned to a normal life style. With current surgical techniques and modern immunosuppression, hepatic transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with endstage irreversible liver disease. The extreme shortage of donor organs is now the major factor limiting the application of liver transplantation in children.     

Living-donor liver transplantation in children

Introduction: Living- related liver transplantation (LRLT) for paediatric recipients was developed 10 years ago to overcome the high mortality on the waiting list. Since then, liver transplantation programs around the world have begun to employ this method with encouraging results. This review describes the actual status of LRLT in children, aspects of donor selection, donor risks, and surgical technique, as well as an update of the results of the leading LRLT programs in the world. The donor operation has matured to the stage of being a standardised, teachable procedure with a low risk of morbidity or mortality. However, there is a percentage of potential donations that have to be declined for medical or socio- psychological reasons. LRLT provides grafts of excellent quality and short cold ischemic times. A major advantage is the fact that the optimal moment for the transplantation procedure can be chosen. Together with split-liver techniques, LRLT has a positive effect on the general situation of the paediatric waiting list for liver transplantation, with a reduction of pre-transplant mortality to nearly 0%. Received: 14 October 1999//Accepted: 20 October 1999     

In situ split liver transplantation for two adult recipients

BACKGROUND: Modifications of the in situ split liver technique are needed for safe transplantation in two adult recipients with a single donor. METHODS: The graft from a brain-dead donor, 187 cm tall and weighing 89 kg, was split in situ with a transection performed along the main portal fissure retaining the middle hepatic vein with the left graft. The right and left grafts, which weighed 985 and 760 g, respectively, were transplanted in two adult recipients weighing 70 and 56 kg, respectively. RESULTS: Both recipients had minor intraoperative blood loss and were discharged from intensive care on day 3. Both grafts were rapidly functional, and the two patients were in excellent condition with normal liver function tests 9 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: In situ split liver transplantation can be performed with the middle hepatic vein retained in the left graft to obtain a sufficient volume of the two grafts suitable for two adult recipients. This modification of the technique could expand the donor pool for adult recipients.