Estimation of standard liver volume in Japanese living liver donors

BACKGROUND: Standard liver volume (SLV) is an important concept in adult living liver donor transplantation. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate and modify the authors' previous formula for predicting total liver volume (TLV). METHODS: The TLV of 301 Japanese living donors was measured by computed tomography. This TLV was then compared with the liver volume calculated using established formulas. The correlation between TLV and several factors including body surface area (BSA) were analyzed and a new equation (SLVn) to better approximate TLV was determined. Factors related to the difference between TLV and SLVn were examined. RESULTS: Average TLV was 1196.3 +/- 221.0 cm3. Urata's formula underestimated TLV by 17.6 cm3 and the other formulas overestimated it by 120.4-244.9 cm3. TLV could be approximated by BSA; SLVn (cm3) = -404.8 + 961.3 x BSA (m2, R2 = 0.58). SLVn tended to overestimate the TLV of older donors and to underestimate TLV of thin donors. CONCLUSIONS: A new simple formula is presented that might be a better fit for calculating TLV in Japanese adults. This formula might be useful for evaluating the size of an adequate graft.     

Comparison of laparoscopic and open living donor hepatectomy: A meta-analysis

Laparoscopic donor hepatectomy (LDH), accepted as a minimally invasive approach, has become increasingly popular for living donor liver transplant. However, the outcomes of LDH remain to be fully clarified when compared with open living donor hepatectomy. Thus, our meta-analysis was designed to assess the efficacy of laparoscopic in comparison with conventional open donor hepatectomy.The PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase electronic databases were searched to identify the articles concerning the comparison of the efficacy of laparoscopic versus open surgery in treatment of living donor liver transplantation updated to March, 2020. The main search terms and medical Subject Heading terms were: “living donor,” “liver donor,” “minimally invasive,” “laparoscopic surgery,” and “open surgery.” After rigorous evaluation on quality, the data was extracted from eligible publications. The outcomes of interest included intraoperative and postoperative results.The inclusion criteria were met by a total of 20 studies. In all, 2001 subjects involving 633 patients who received laparoscopic surgery and 1368 patients who received open surgery were included. According to the pooled result of surgery duration, the laparoscopic surgery was associated with shorter duration of hospital stay (MD = −1.07, 95% CI −1.85 to −0.29; P = .007), less blood loss (MD = −57.57, 95% CI −65.07 to −50.07; P < .00001), and less postoperative complications (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.44–0.85; P = .003). And the open donor hepatectomy achieved a trend of shorter operation time (MD = 30.31, 95% CI 13.93–46.69; P = .0003) than laparoscopic group. Similar results were found in terms of ALT (P = .52) as well as the AST (P = .47) peak level between the 2 groups.LDH showed the better perioperative outcomes as compared with open donor hepatectomy. The findings revealed that LDH may be a feasible and safe procedure for the living donor liver transplantation.     

Technical refinements of bile duct division in living donor liver surgery

Background/purpose

In spite of the great risk involved, the donor bile duct division procedure has not been thoroughly addressed in the literature. The purpose of this study is to show the appropriate approach to bile duct division in living donor hepatectomy.

Methods

Of 87 living donor liver surgeries, we performed bile duct division by marking the cutting point using a small vascular clip under ordinary cholangiography in the first 37 patients, while the current procedure was used in 50 patients by encircling the cutting point using a radiopaque marker filament under real-time C-arm cholangiography.

Results

Regarding the procurement of the 51 right lobe grafts, the incidence of multiple bile ducts in the graft was significantly reduced by our novel procedure [20/28 (71%) vs. 7/23 (30%), P?<?0.01, Fisher??s test]. Overall, there were no biliary strictures after surgery in any of the donors, with a median follow-up period of 43?months (range 8?C136).

Conclusions

Our procedure of bile duct division in living liver donor surgery enabled us to avoid the biliary stricture while cutting the bile duct of the donor with great accuracy.     

Evaluation outcomes of donors in living dono liver transplantation: a single-center analysis of 132 donors

BACKGROUND: Donor safety has always been a major concern and potential risk to the donor must be balanced against recipient benefit. However, lack of a standardized and uniform evaluation of perioperative complications is a serious limitation of the evaluation of donor morbidity. This study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of donors in adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using the newer Clavien classification system in a single center in China. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the outcome...     

Live donors in liver transplantation

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been controversial since its inception. Begun in response to deceased donor organ shortage and waiting list mortality, LDLT was initiated in 1989 in children, grew rapidly after its first general application in adults in the United States in 1998, and has declined since 2001. There are significant risks to the living donor, including the risk of death and substantial morbidity, and 2 highly publicized donor deaths are thought to have contributed to decreased enthusiasm for LDLT. Significant improvements in outcomes have been seen over recent years, and data, including from the National Institutes of Health-funded Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study (A2ALL), have established a survival benefit from pursuing LDLT. Despite this, LDLT still composes less than 5% of adult liver transplants, significantly less than in kidney transplantation where living donors compose approximately 40% of all transplantations performed. The ethics, optimal utility, and application of LDLT remain to be defined. In addition, most studies to date have focused on posttransplantation outcomes and have not included the effect of the learning curve on outcome or the potential impact of LDLT on waiting list mortality. Further growth of LDLT will depend on defining the optimal recipient and donor characteristics for this procedure as well as broader acceptance and experience in the public and in transplant centers.     

Safety limit of the extent of hepatectomy for rats with moderately fatty liver: experimental study concerning living liver donor safety

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to determine whether rats with moderately fatty liver could withstand a 90% hepatectomy, which rats with normal livers can survive. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine-week-old male Wistar rats were used. Normal rat chow was fed to the normal liver group, and fat-enriched rat chow was fed to the fatty liver group for 4 weeks to induce a moderately fatty liver. The authors have previously reported that this fatty liver rat model can cause fatal liver dysfunction after reduced-size-liver transplantation. A 90% and 95% hepatectomy were performed using rats of both groups to evaluate posthepatectomized liver function. RESULTS: All rats undergoing a 90% hepatectomy were still alive 30 days after the hepatectomy, but the rats that underwent a 95% hepatectomy were all dead within 4 days regardless of group. Increases in the liver remnant wet weight measured until 7 postoperative days after 90% hepatectomy were almost similar among the two groups. Alanin aminotransferase measured at 24, 48, 72, and 168 h after a 90% hepatectomy were significantly higher in the fatty liver group than in the normal liver group. Similarly, at up to 72 h postoperatively, the serum hyarulonic acids were significantly higher in the fatty liver group. CONCLUSION: A moderately fatty liver did not cause mortality in 90% hepatectomized rats. However, it caused a higher degree of hepatic parenchymal as well as sinusoidal injury.     

Infections developing in patients undergoing liver transplantation: Recipients of living donors may be more prone to bacterial/fungal infections

Background/AimsDespite surgical advances in liver transplantation and effective prophylactic strategies, posttransplant infections are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis and management of infections because of developing immunosuppression is difficult and adversely affects mortality. This study aimed to review bacterial and fungal infections in patients after liver transplantation and to reveal the resistance rates.Materials and MethodsA total of 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation between January 2017 and February 2018 were evaluated retrospectively with regard to demographic characteristics, causes of transplantation, conditions that may lead to infection, postoperative infections, pathogens, and resistance patterns.ResultsOf the 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation, 48 (44.8%) had an infection. Bacterial infections were detected in 41% of the patients, and fungal infections were found in 13%. When we compared living and cadaveric transplants in terms of infection development, these rates were found to be 53% and 33%, respectively (p=0.034). No statistically significant results could be obtained when evaluating conditions such as sex, presence of underlying primary disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease MELD score, diabetes status, total parenteral nutrition, and risk factors for infection.ConclusionAfter liver transplantation, infections are often seen in the first month of the postoperative period. Knowing the most common pathogens and resistance states in this process reduces infection-related deaths by providing appropriate treatment regimens at the right time.     

Health-related quality of life in living liver donors after transplantation

BACKGROUND:Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has recently emerged as an effective therapeutic alternative for patients with end-stage liver disease.In the meantime,the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the donors is becoming better appreciated.Here we aimed to review the current literature and summarize the effects of liver donation on the long-term HRQoL of living donors.DATA SOURCES:A literature search of PubMed using donors,living donor liver transplantation,health-related quality of life...     

Laparoscopic versus open left lateral hepatectomy

Laparoscopic liver surgery is becoming more popular, and many high-volume liver centers are now gaining expertise in this area. Laparoscopic left lateral hepatectomy (LLLH) is a standardized and anatomically well-defined resection and may transform into a primarily laparoscopic procedure for cancer surgery or living donor hepatectomy for transplantation. Five case–control series were identified comparing a total of 167 cases (86 cases of LLLH plus 81 cases of open left lateral hepatectomy). Groups were matched by age and sex, with broadly similar indications for surgery and resection techniques. LLLH is associated with shorter hospital stays and less blood loss without compromising the margin status or increasing complication rates. Donors of LLLH grafts did not have higher graft-related morbidity. Prospective studies are required to define the safety in terms of disease-free and overall survival in this new avenue in laparoscopic liver surgery.     

不同性别、年龄活体供肾代偿能力的比较

目的:检测不同性别、年龄组活体供肾肾移植前后肾小球滤过率(GFR)的变化,比较各组供肾代偿能力。方法:共84例活体肾移植供者,按其年龄分为A组(>50岁)和B组(19～50岁);按供者性别分为女性组和男性组。各组术前用MDRD公式计算总体肾小球滤过率(eGFR),核素分别测定两侧GFR,按比例估算供肾术前的eGFR。计算受者移植后半年内最高eGFR,比较各组供肾eGFR移植前后变化情况。结果:总体供肾手术前后eGFR[(54.78±13.50)ml/(min·1.73m2)vs(76.68±32.23)ml/(min·1.73m2)]差异显著,代偿率32.30%(10.92%～63.89%)。A组术后eGFR明显增加[(47.16±10.43)ml/(min·1.73m2)vs(66.15±17.89)ml/(min·1.73m2)],代偿率44.35%(18.16%～63.22%);B组后eGFR代偿率30.52%(8.96%～63.01%);男性组术后eGFR代偿率33.61%(14.77%～66.96%);女性组术后eGFR代偿率25.66%(1.24%～62.45%);供肾eGFR代偿率与其术前eGFR水平及受体年龄负相关。结论:移植后各组活体供肾eGFR均明显代偿性升高,但个体差异较大。虽然A组eGFR水平在肾移植前后均低于B组,但其总体代偿能力良好。女性活体供肾与男性供体肾移植前后表现相近。术前评估活体供肾代偿能力要考虑其基础eGFR及受者需求。     

Risks faced by donors of right lobe for living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND:Because of the shortage of deceased donors with livers fit for transplantation,living donor liver transplantation(LDLT)is becoming an attractive alternative.Attention should be paid to the donors,especially to those of the right lobe.In this study,we evaluated the risks faced by donors of the right lobe for adult-to-adult LDLT.METHODS:The perioperative data from 105 consecutive living donors of the right lobe performed in West China Hospital from January 2002 to December 2007 were retrospectively...     

Diaphragmatic hernia after right donor and hepatectomy: a rare donor complication of partial hepatectomy for transplantation

BACKGROUND: Because of the critical worldwide shortage of cadaveric organ donors, transplant professionals have increasingly turned to living donors. Partial hepatectomy for adult living donor liver transplantation has been performed since the late 1990s. Most often,the complications of living donor hepatectomy have been related to the biliary tract, specifically biliary leaks. METHODS: A 54-year-old man underwent donor right hepatectomy for living donor liver transplantation. Three years after liver donation he presented with upper abdominal pain and fullness. Radiographic workup revealed a diaphragmatic hernia of the right hemithorax. RESULTS: After thoracoscopic evaluation of the right hemithorax, diaphragmatic hernia was repaired. Currently the patient remains well several months after the repair with complete resolution of abdominal pain, normal chest X-ray examination demonstrating no recurrence of diaphragmatic hernia, and normal liver functions tests. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple complications of living donor liver transplantation have been described the transplant literature. Diaphragmatic hernia is a formerly-undescribed complication of right donor hepatectomy for transplantation.     

Successful management of chylous ascites after living donor liver transplantation with somatostatin

Chylous ascites is a rare complication following liver transplantation. A variety of treatment options have been proposed for the management of chylous ascites; however, their effectiveness following a liver transplant is unknown. A 40‐year‐old woman who underwent living donor liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis developed chylous ascites 21 days after the transplant. A conventional treatment consisting of a low‐fat diet with total parenteral nutrition failed to treat the complication for 104 days. However, the use of somatostatin in combination with total parenteral nutrition resulted in a rapid falloff in chyle output without any adverse effects. Somatostatin and total parenteral nutrition are an effective option for the treatment of chylous ascites after living donor liver transplantation.