Living donor liver transplantation with reduced monosegments for neonates and small infants

BACKGROUND: In pediatric living donor liver transplantation, left lateral segment or monosegmental graft is used to overcome size discrepancies between adult donors and pediatric recipients. For neonates and extremely small infants, however, problems related to large-for-size graft are sometimes encountered even when using such grafts. The reduced monosegmental graft, in which the caudal part of the monosegmental graft is resected, has been introduced to address this problem. METHODS: Of 566 children who underwent transplant between June 1990 and September 2004, reduced monosegment living donor liver transplants were used for nine patients (median age, 144 days; median weight, 4.1 kg). This technique was used for infants with estimated graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) > or =4.0% when using the left lateral segment. RESULTS: Graft and patient survival was 66.7%. GRWR was reduced from 7.45+/-2.70% to 3.39+/-0.89% using this modification. Transaminase levels at days 1 and 2 after transplantation were significantly higher in reduced monosegmental transplantation than in left lateral segmental transplantation. Hepatic artery thrombosis and portal vein thrombosis were observed in one case each. CONCLUSION: Reduced monosegmental living donor liver transplantation represents a feasible option for neonates and extremely small infants with liver failure.     

Pediatric Liver Transplantation Using Reduced and Hyper‐Reduced Left Lateral Segment Grafts: A 10‐Year Single‐Center Experience

Few studies have examined the long‐term outcomes and prognostic factors associated with pediatric living living‐donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using reduced and hyper‐reduced left lateral segment grafts. We conducted a retrospective, single‐center assessment of the outcomes of this procedure, as well as clinical factors that influenced graft and patient survival. Between September 2000 and December 2009, 49 patients (median age: 7 months, weight: 5.45 kg) underwent LDLT using reduced (partial left lateral segment; n = 5, monosegment; n = 26), or hyper‐reduced (reduced monosegment grafts; n = 18) left lateral segment grafts. In all cases, the estimated graft‐to‐recipient body weight ratio of the left lateral segment was more than 4%, as assessed by preoperative computed tomography volumetry, and therefore further reduction was required. A hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in two patients (4.1%). Portal venous complications occurred in eight patients (16.3%). The overall patient survival rate at 1, 3 and 10 years after LDLT were 83.7%, 81.4% and 78.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that recipient age of less than 2 months and warm ischemic time of more than 40 min affected patient survival. Pediatric LDLT using reduced and hyper‐reduced left lateral segment grafts appears to be a feasible option with acceptable graft survival and vascular complication rates.     

Living-donor liver transplantation with monosegments

BACKGROUND: Living-donor liver transplantation is now an established technique to treat children with end-stage liver disease. Implantation of left-lateral segment grafts can be a problem in small infants because of a large-for-size graft. We report 10 cases of transplantation using monosegment grafts from living donors. METHOD: Of 506 children transplanted between June 1990 and June 2002, 10 patients (median age 196 days, median weight 5.9 kg) received monosegment living-donor liver transplants. The indication for using this technique was infants with an estimated graft-to-recipient weight ratio of over 4.0%. RESULTS: Graft and patient survival was 80.0%. There were no differences in donor operation time and blood loss between monosegmentectomy and left-lateral segmentectomy (n=281). Monosegmental transplantation had a high incidence of vascular complications (20.0%). CONCLUSION: Monosegmental living- donor liver transplantation is a feasible option with satisfactory graft survival in small babies with liver failure.     

Living donor liver transplantation with hyperreduced left lateral segments

Liver transplantation is now an established technique to treat children with end-stage liver disease. Implantation of left lateral segment grafts (Couidaud's segments II and III) can be a problem in small infants because of a large-for-size graft. Reduced left lateral segmental liver transplantation has been recently introduced for small infants to mitigate the problem of large-for-size graft. Further reduction of the left lateral segment graft increases the possibility of supplying an adequate hyperreduced left lateral segment graft as an alternative surgical technique. We report 3 cases of our experience of transplantation using hyperreduced left lateral segment grafts from living donors.     

Safety of donor in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation using right lobe graft

BACKGROUND: The growing gap between the number of patients awaiting liver transplantation and available organs has continued to be the primary issue facing the transplant community. To overcome the waiting list mortality, living donor liver transplantation has become an option, in which the greatest concern is the safety of the donor, especially in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (A-A LDLT) using a right lobe liver graft. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the safety of donors after right lobe liver donation for A-A LDLT performed in our center. METHODS: From January 2002 to March 2006, 26 patients underwent A-A LDLT using right lobe liver grafts in our center. Seven donors were men and 19 were women (range, 19-65 years; median age, 38 years). The right lobe liver grafts were obtained by transecting the liver on the right side of the middle hepatic vein without interrupting the vascular blood flow. The mean follow-up time for these donors was 9 months. RESULTS: These donor residual liver volumes ranged from 30.5% to 60.3%. We did not experience any donor mortality. Two cases (7.69%) experienced major complications: intra-abdominal bleeding and portal vein thrombosis in one each and three (11.54%), minor ones: wound steatosis in two, and transient chyle leak in one. All donors were fully recovered and returned to their previous occupations. CONCLUSIONS: A-A LDLT using a right lobe liver graft has become a standard option. The donation of right lobe liver for A-A LDLT was a relatively safe procedure in our center.     

Regeneration and outcome of dual grafts in living donor liver transplantation

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the essential aims are to provide an adequate graft volume to the recipient and to keep a sufficient remnant liver volume in the donor. In some instances, these aims cannot be met by a single donor and LDLT using dual grafts from two donors is a good solution. From 2002 to 2009, five recipients in our hospital received dual graft LDLT. Two recipients received one right lobe and one left lobe grafts; the other three received two left lobe grafts. The mean final liver regeneration rate was 91.2%. Left lobe graft atrophy in the long term was observed in recipients who received a right and a left lobe grafts. The initial bigger volume graft in all recipients was noted to have better regeneration than the smaller volume grafts. Portal flow and bilateral grafts volume size discrepancy were considered as two major factors influencing graft regeneration in this study. We also noted that the initial graft volume correlated with portal flow in the separate grafts and finally contribute to individual graft regeneration. Because of compensatory hypertrophy of the other graft, recipients who experienced atrophy of one graft did not show signs of liver dysfunction.     

The first two cases of living donor liver transplantation using dual grafts in Europe.

The major limitation in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an adequate graft size with special regard to the safety of the donor. Only 20% of the evaluated donors are suitable to donate the right liver, depending mainly on the critical remnant liver volume. We report 2 cases of adult-to-adult LDLT using dual grafts. In the first case we implanted a left lateral lobe together with a left lobe; in the second case we used a left lateral and a right lobe. Dual graft LDLT solves the problem of graft-size insufficiency and avoids critical right lobectomy in the donor. This procedure can be safely performed and opens up the possibility of LDLT to even more families in the Western world.     

Liver transplantation in children from living related donors. Surgical techniques and results.

Pediatric liver transplantation with reduced size donor organs (RLT) has evolved into a standard clinical procedure increasing the choices of recipients for their treatment. Nevertheless organ availability remains a major problem. The authors therefore have proposed to study the use of hepatic segments from living related donors (LRT) in a group of 20 children less than 2 years of age or weighing less than 15 kg, in whom standard indications for transplantation existed. Volunteer related donors were selected after medical and psychiatric evaluations, and the suitability of the donor's liver was established by functional and radiologic criteria. A two-stage informed consent process assured appropriate "volunteerism." Nineteen infants received LRT as first grafts and one as a second graft. Seventeen of the recipients are alive 3 to 18 months after LRT. Fifteen of 20 patients are currently at home with the original graft and normal liver function (bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dl) after a median hospital stay of 27 days (range, 14-93 days). Four patients underwent retransplantation, in all cases due to arterial thrombosis. The overall graft survival for 20 primary LRTs is 75%, with follow-up between 3 and 18 months. A number of technical problems occurred during our initial trial, the most aggravating being vascular thrombosis. Refined approaches to vascular reconstruction should reduce the incidence of thrombosis and improve the rate of survival in future cases. The donor group for the initial 20 LRT procedures comprised 12 mothers, 7 fathers, and 1 grandmother. In addition one father and one uncle, who was an identical twin of the recipient's father, who did not qualify for anatomic reasons, were used in repeat LRT. All donors survived and are now in normal health between 3 and 18 months after LRT, having returned to all activities enjoyed before donation. The median hospital stay was 6 days (range, 5-14). Complications were minimal, and all were limited to the first three procedures, in which a full left hepatectomy was performed. After alteration of the procedure into a left lateral segmentectomy, no complications were encountered. The left lateral segmentectomy presents minimal surgical trauma to the liver and should remain the primary approach for obtaining a liver graft from a living donor. For children, transplantation of a left lateral segment from a live donor provides a new way of providing a transplant of appropriate size and with good function. The success of this program has led to the acceptance of LRT for general clinical application in the authors' institution.     

婴幼儿活体肝移植33例

目的 探讨活体肝移植治疗婴幼儿终末期肝病的疗效.方法 回顾性分析2006年10月至2009年9月上海交通大学医学院附属仁济医院33例实施活体肝移植的婴幼儿的临床资料.本组患儿中位年龄10.9个月,平均体质量8.2 kg,供肝均采用肝左外叶.术后采用他克莫司或环孢素A+激素二联方案或在此基础上再加用吗替麦考酚酯的三联方案行免疫抑制治疗.分析评价手术方法、围手术期处理和随访结果.结果 供者和受者手术时间、术中出血量、术中输血量分别为(384±108)min、(183±35)ml、0和(500±103)min、(296±163)ml、(292±159)ml,供肝冷缺血时间为(64±23)min,移植物质量为(249±52)g,移植物质量与受者体质量比为2.1%±0.4%.全部供者均顺利康复,无手术并发症.受者出现肝动脉栓塞3例,门静脉栓塞2例,各类胆道并发症9例,感染11例,急性排斥反应2例,围手术期死亡5例.本组患儿1年累积生存率为85%(28/33).结论 婴幼儿终末期肝病可通过活体肝移植取得理想的效果.外科技术的提高、围手术期管理经验的积累和规范的随访可提高手术成功率和长期生存率.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of living donor liver transplantation in the treatment of infants with end-stage liver diseases. Methods The clinical data of 33 infants who received living donor liver transplantation at the Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University from October 2006 to September 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age of the infants was 10.9 months, and the mean body weight was 8.2 kg.All of the grafts were left lateral lobes. Tacrolimus (or cyclosporine A) + steroid or tacrolimus (or cyclosporine A)+ steroid + mycophenolate mofeti] were applied to the infants to suppress the immune reaction. Operative techniques, perioperative management and results of follow-up were analyzed. Results The mean operation time,blood loss and blood transfusion of the donors were (384±108)minutes, (183±35) ml and O, and the three indexes of the recipients were (500± 103) minutes, (296±163) ml and (292 ± 159) ml , respectively. The cold preservation time of the grafts was (64 ±23)minutes, the mean weight of the grafts was (249 ±52)g, and the mean graft to recipient weight ratio was 2.1% ± 0.4%. All donors recovered smoothly and no complication occurred. Of the recipients, three were complicated with hepatic artery thrombosis, two with portal vein thrombosis,nine with biliary complications, 11 with infection, two with acute rejection and five infants died perioperatively.The one-year cumulative survival rate of the infants was 85% (28/33). Conclusions Infants with end-stage liver diseases could be treated by living donor liver transplantation. The development of surgical techniques and perioperative managements improves the success rate of operation and the long-term survival rate.     

Pediatric living donor liver transplantation

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the results of living donor in a pediatric liver transplantation program. PATIENTS: Twenty-six living donor liver transplantations were performed in children from 0.5 to 14.8 years of age. The main indication was biliary atresia (72%) followed by tumors (2 hepatoblastomas and 1 hepatocarcinoma). Left lateral segments were used in 23 (1 transformed into a monosegment), 1 left lobe was used in 1, and right lobes were used in 2. Arterial reconstruction employed saphenous venous grafts in the first 3 cases and end-to-end anastomoses with a microsurgical technique in the following 22 cases. RESULTS: There has been no major morbidity in the donors, with a median hospitalization of 6 days. Four grafts have been lost; 2 in the first 3 cases. In only 1 case, the graft loss was related to the procedure saphenous venous graft thrombosis). Early biliary complications were frequent (23%). Six month, 1 year, and 5 year graft and patient survival rates were 91%, 85%, and 85% and 100%, 96%, and 96%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Living donor liver transplantation is an excellent option for transplantation in children.     

Salvage living donor liver transplantation after prior liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Salvage liver transplantation has been performed for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or deterioration of liver function after primary liver resection. Because prior liver resection per se is an unfavorable condition for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), we assessed the technical feasibility of LDLT after prior hepatectomy, and we compared the outcome of salvage LDLT with that of primary LDLT in HCC patients. Of 342 patients with HCC, 17 (5%) underwent salvage LDLT, with 5 having undergone prior major liver resection and 12 prior minor resection. During salvage LDLT, 12 patients received right lobe grafts, 3 received left lobe grafts, and 2 received dual grafts. There was 1 incident (5.9%) of perioperative mortality. Recipient operation time was not prolonged in patients undergoing salvage LDLT, but bleeding complications occurred more frequently than in patients undergoing primary LDLT. Overall survival rates after salvage LDLT were similar to those after primary LDLT, especially when the extent of recurrent tumor was within the Milan criteria. These results indicate that every combination of prior hepatectomy and living donor liver graft is feasible for patients undergoing salvage LDLT, and the acceptable extent of HCC for salvage LDLT is equivalent to that for primary LDLT.     

Four hundred thirty consecutive pediatric living donor liver transplants: variables associated with posttransplant patient and graft survival

The availability of living donors allows transplant teams to indicate living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) early in the course of liver disease before the occurrence of life-threatening complications. Late referral to transplant centers is still a problem and can compromise the success of the procedure. The aim of this study was to examine the perioperative factors associated with patient and graft survival for 430 consecutive pediatric LDLT procedures at Sirio-Libanes Hospital/A. C. Camargo Hospital (S?o Paulo, Brazil) between October 1995 and April 2011. The studied pretransplant variables included the following: recipient age and body weight, Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease score, z score for height/age, bilirubin, albumin, international normalized ratio, hemoglobin, sodium, presence of ascites, and previous surgery. The analyzed technical aspects included the graft-to-recipient weight ratio and the use of vascular grafts for portal vein reconstruction. In addition, the occurrence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and biliary complications was also analyzed. The liver grafts included 348 left lateral segments, 5 monosegments, 51 left lobes, and 9 right lobes. In a univariate analysis, an age < 12 months, a low body weight (≤10 kg), malnutrition, hyperbilirubinemia, and HAT were associated with decreased patient and graft survival after LDLT. In a multivariate analysis, a body weight ≤ 10 kg and HAT were significantly associated with decreased patient and graft survival. The use of vascular grafts significantly increased the occurrence of PVT. In conclusion, a low body weight (≤10 kg) and the occurrence of HAT independently determined worse patient and graft survival in this large cohort of pediatric LDLT patients.     

Living donor liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure

BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) was originally indicated only for elective cases of pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease. In Japan, however, where liver transplantation from brain-dead donor is performed very rarely, this indication has been expanded to emergency cases such as fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with FHF were treated between May 1992 and April 1999. Causes of acute liver failure were non-A, non-B hepatitis in 27 patients, hepatitis B virus in seven, and hepatitis A virus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, and chrome poisoning in one each. RESULTS: Four patients did not undergo LDLT because of severe brain damage or combined multiple organ failure. The remaining 34 patients underwent a total of 36 LDLTs, including two retransplantations; 16 children received transplants of 17 lateral segments, three children and eight adults transplants of 11 left lobes, and seven adults transplants of eight right lobes. A total of 15 recipients died, four of primary graft dysfunction, three of refractory acute rejection, two of pneumonia, and one each of ductopenic rejection, sepsis, aplastic anemis, recurrence of Epstein-Barr virus hepatitis, multiple organ failure by chrome poisoning, and unknown hepatic failure. Primary graft dysfunction developed in adult recipients with small-for-size graft transplants, whereas refractory acute rejection and ductopenic rejection occurred in six grafts each of children with non-A, non-B FHF. CONCLUSIONS: LDLT can be safely expanded to cases of FHF in adult patients. Primary graft dysfunction in adult recipients with small-for-size left lobe grafts can be overcome by using right lobes. However, refractory acute rejection and ductopenic rejection in children remain a major problem.     

Resolution of severe graft steatosis following dual-graft living donor liver transplantation.

Although severely steatotic liver grafts are not suitable for transplantation, they have been used when other, more optimal donors were not available, especially for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using two liver grafts. Here we present two cases of dual-graft LDLT in which the recipients showed rapid and complete clearing of fat from livers with previously severe steatosis. In the first case, two left lateral segment grafts were used, one of which was 70% steatotic. Preoperative and posttransplant two-week liver-to-spleen computed tomography-value (L/S) ratios were 0.48 and 1.25, respectively. A liver biopsy taken two weeks after transplantation showed that the fatty changes had almost disappeared. The second case used one left lobe and one left lateral segment graft, the latter of which was 80% steatotic. Preoperative and two-week L/S ratio were 0.58 and 1.34, respectively, and a liver biopsy taken two weeks after transplantation showed less than 3% steatosis. The two donors of the severely steatotic liver grafts recovered uneventfully. These findings show that the fat content of the liver grafts was rapidly removed after transplantation. This observation is helpful in understanding the recovery sequences following transplantation of steatotic liver grafts, as well as expanding the acceptability of steatotic liver grafts.     

成人间双供体活体肝脏移植成功2例报告

目的供肝短缺是影响肝脏移植发展的主要因素之一，活体供肝是解决这一矛盾的重要措施，供者提供足够的肝脏是影响活体肝脏移植的重要因素。方法施行成人间双供体活体肝移植2例，1例由受者的两位姐姐分别提供左半肝作为供肝，另1例由受者母亲提供右半肝，由无心跳供者提供左半肝(采用劈裂方式，其另一部分肝脏同时为另一成人受者实施肝脏移植)作为供肝。结果术后供、受者肝功能均恢复良好。结论成人问双供肝活体肝脏移植可以为受者提供更大重量的肝脏，又可减少供者提供较多肝脏所带来的风险；双供肝一受者肝脏移植手术操作复杂。     

Regeneration and function of hemiliver graft: right versus left

BACKGROUND: A right liver graft used almost routinely for adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), is associated with a higher incidence of morbidity and mortality in the donor. We compared volume regeneration and graft function between left and right liver grafts to examine the feasibility of using left liver grafts. METHODS: The left liver was considered acceptable as a graft when it was estimated to be over 40% of the recipient standard liver volume. Otherwise, right liver harvesting was used, provided the estimated right liver volume was less than 70% of the donor's standard liver volume. Graft volume on computed tomography and the results of liver function tests 1, 3, and 12 months after LDLT were compared between recipients with left (n = 76) and right (n = 83) grafts. Possible factors influencing graft regeneration were evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A higher regeneration rate in the left liver graft group resulted in the same ratio of graft to standard liver volume as in the right liver graft group (88% vs 87%) 1 year after LDLT. Liver function tests and 5-year survival rates were comparable between the 2 groups. An episode of acute rejection was a predictive factor for impaired graft regeneration 1 month after LDLT. The initial ratio of graft volume to standard liver volume was an independent factor for regeneration 1 year after LDLT. CONCLUSIONS: A properly evaluated left liver graft can be used as safely as a right liver graft in adult-to-adult LDLT. The findings of the present study justify LDLT with a left liver graft under specific selection criteria and may be preferred to a right liver graft.     

Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Neonates Using Segment 2 Monosubsegment Graft

The prognosis of liver transplantation for neonates with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) continues to be extremely poor, especially in patients whose body weight is less than 3 kg. To address this problem, we have developed a safe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) modality for neonates. We performed LDLTs with segment 2 monosubsegment (S2) grafts for three neonatal FHF. The recipient age and body weight at LDLT were 13–27 days, 2.59–2.84 kg, respectively. S2 or reduced S2 grafts (93–98 g) obtained from their fathers were implanted using temporary portacaval shunt. The recipient portal vein was reconstructed at a more distal site, such as the umbilical portion, to have the graft liver move freely during hepatic artery (HA) reconstruction. The recipient operation time and bleeding were 11 h 58 min–15 h 27 min and 200–395 mL, respectively. The graft‐to‐recipient weight ratio was 3.3–3.8% and primary abdominal wall closure was possible in all cases. Although hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in one case, all cases survived with normal growth. Emergency LDLT with S2 grafts weighing less than 100 g can save neonates with FHF whose body weight is less than 3 kg. This LDLT modality using S2 grafts could become a new option for neonates and very small infants requiring LT.     

Adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation using extended right lobe grafts.

OBJECTIVE: The authors report their experience with living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using extended right lobe grafts for adult patients under high-urgency situations. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The efficacy of LDLT in the treatment of children has been established. The major limitation of adult-to-adult LDLT is the adequacy of the graft size. A left lobe graft from a relatively small volunteer donor will not meet the metabolic demand of a larger recipient. METHODS: From May 1996 to November 1996, seven LDLTs, using extended right lobe grafts, were performed under high-urgency situations. All recipients were in intensive care units before transplantation with five having acute renal failure, three on mechanical ventilation, and all with hepatic encephalopathy. The median body weight for the donors and recipients was 58 kg (range, 41-84 kg) and 65 kg (range, 53-90 kg), respectively. The body weights of four donors were less than those of the corresponding recipients, and the lowest donor-to-recipient body weight ratio was 0.62:1. The extended right lobe graft was chosen because the left lobe volume was <40% of the ideal liver mass of the recipient. RESULTS: Median blood loss for the donors was 900 mL (range, 700-1600 mL) and hospital stay was 19 days (range, 8-22 days). Homologous blood transfusion was not required. Two donors had complications (one incisional hernia and one bile duct stricture) requiring reoperation after discharge. All were well with normal liver function 5 to 10 months after surgery. The graft weight ranged from 490 g to 1140 g. All grafts showed immediate function with normalization of prothrombin time and recovery of conscious state of the recipients. There was no vascular complication, but six recipients required reoperation. One recipient died of systemic candidiasis 16 days after transplantation and 6 (86%) were alive with the original graft at a median follow-up of 6.5 months (range, 5-10 months). CONCLUSIONS: When performed by a team with experience in hepatectomy and transplantation, LDLT, using an extended right lobe graft, can achieve superior results. The technique extends the success of LDLT from pediatric recipients to adult recipients and opens a new donor pool for adults to receive a timely graft of adequate function.     

亲属活体供肝移植治疗儿童终末期肝病六例

目的 探讨亲属活体供肝移植(LDLT)治疗儿童终末期肝病的效果,并总结治疗经验.方法 2005年9月至2007年1月对6例终末期肝病患儿进行了LDLT.6例患者中,原发病为肝内外胆管弥漫性囊性扩张症Ⅳ型伴肝硬化1例、肝豆状核变性2例、门静脉海绵样变性3例;供者为患儿的母亲3例、父亲2例及舅父1例,分别切取供者的右半肝1例和左半肝5例作为供肝;在切除受者全部病肝和保留下腔静脉后,对受者施行部分供肝的原位肝移植.术后依据供、受者的临床表现、血液学指标和影像学检查,对活体供肝移植的治疗效果进行评价.结果 术后对供、受者随访了6～21个月.6例供者均健康存活,未发生并发症.6例受者中,1例于术后第4天死于门静脉血栓形成,1例于术后5个月时死于肝内静脉血栓形成,其余4例均长期健康存活.结论 亲属活体供肝移植是治疗儿童终末期肝病的有效方法.术前进行仔细的供、受者选择和完善的影像学检查,术中应用精确的手术技术,术后给予严格的管理是儿童LDLT成功的关键.     

Adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation at the Asan Medical Center,Korea

Between February 1997 and December 2001, 311 adult-to-adult living donor liver transplants (A-A LDLTs) were performed at the Asan Medical Center for patients above 20 years of age. Indications for A-A LDLT were: chronic hepatitis B (203), chronic hepatitis C (5), hepatocellular carcinoma (64), alcoholic cirrhosis (9), cryptogenic cirrhosis (4), secondary biliary cirrhosis (5), primary biliary cirrhosis (1), Wilson' s disease (2), autoimmune hepatitis (1), hepatic tuberculosis (1), cholangiocarcinoma (1), fulminant hepatic failure (14) and primary non-function of cadaveric liver graft (1). Of 311 A-A LDLTs, 36 were of medical high urgency, 20 were for acute and subacute hepatic failure, 15 were for hepato-renal syndrome and 1 was for primary non-function. Recipient age ranged from 27 to 64 years. Donor age ranged from 16 to 62 years. There was no donor mortality. Implanted liver grafts were categorized into seven types: 175 modified right lobe (MRL), 70 left lobe, 32 right lobe, 20 dual grafts, 10 left lobe plus caudate lobe, three extended right lobe and one posterior segment. In MRL, the tributaries of the middle hepatic vein were reconstructed by interpositioning a vein graft. Indication for dual graft implantation was the same as single graft A-A LDLT, and four of 20 were emergency cases. Of 20 dual grafts, 14 received two left lobes, four received a left lobe and a lateral segment, one received a right lobe and a left lobe and one received a lateral segment and a posterior segment. Graft volume ranged from 28% to 83% of the standard liver volume of the recipients. There were 33 (10.6%) in-hospital mortalities (< 4 months) among the 310 patients after 311 A-A LDLTs. Of the 36 patients receiving emergency transplants, 31 survived. These encouraging results justify the expansion of A-A LDLT in coping with increasing demands, even in urgent situations. We have aimed to introduce the establishment of the efficacy of A-A LDLT in various end-stage chronic and acute liver diseases, as well as new technical advances to overcome small graft-size syndrome by using dual-graft implantation and MRL, both of which were first developed in our department.