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.     

Adult living donor liver transplantation using the right lobe

BACKGROUND: This article reviewed our experience with right lobe donor hepatectomy in living donor liver transplantations (LDLT), particularly in the context of preserving donor safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to August 2005, we performed 206 adult LDLT operations using the right lobe. The donor characteristics, operative findings, postoperative results including the peak values of liver enzymes (aspartate transferase [AST], alanine transferase [ALT], and bilirubin) and regeneration volumes, as evaluated by computed tomography volumetry, were reviewed at 1 week, as well as 3 and 6 months after surgery. The effects of three risk factors on donor safety were analyzed: age (<55 years, > or =55 years): fatty change in the donor liver (<10%, > or =10%); and remnant volume (<35%, > or =35%). RESULTS: The liver enzymes and regeneration volumes showed no significant difference according to age, only ALT was significant increased associated with the severity of fatty change (P < .05). There were significant differences in postoperative AST, ALT, and regeneration volume between the group with <35% and the group with > or =35% remnant liver volume (P < .05). Upon further analysis with combinations of two out of three risk factors, the group according to remnant volume and fatty change was meaningful. Follow-up data on donor ALT showed a return normal levels and after postoperative 3 months there was regeneration of the remnant liver to more than 70% of the whole liver preoperatively. There was no donor mortality, but postoperative complications were observed in 39 patients (39/206, 18.9%). Biliary complications were encountered in 24 patients: one bile duct injury, 22 bile leakages, and one bile duct stricture. Other complications consisted of pleural effusion (n = 8), delayed gastric emptying (n = 6), atelectasis (n = 1), and hepatic encephalopathy (n = 1). CONCLUSION: In cases of careful donor selection, a right lobectomy can be performed safely with minimal risks when the remnant liver volume exceeds 35% of the total liver volume and shows less than 10% fatty changes.     

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.     

Venous hemodynamics in living donor right lobe liver transplantation

We evaluated the influence of portal and hepatic venous hemodynamics on the immediate and 3-month postoperative function of living donor right lobe grafts. Portal velocity was measured prospectively by ultrasound in 14 consecutive donor/recipient pairs. Velocity was converted to flow with the Moriyasu formula. Measurements were taken in donors in the operating room and in recipients at 1 hour after reperfusion and 3 months after transplant. Recipient liver function tests were measured postoperatively. Prereperfusion and postreperfusion liver biopsies were evaluated and correlated with the hemodynamic and biochemical results. There were 11 male (78.6%) and 3 female donors (mean age, 38.9 ± 9.8 years) for 10 male (71.4%) and 4 female recipients (mean age, 49.3 ± 14 years). The mean graft/recipient weight ratio was 1.22 ± 0.3. The mean right portal vein pressure was 8 ± 1.8 mm Hg in donors versus 13 ± 4.7 mm Hg in recipients (P < .05). The mean peak flow velocity (Vmax) in the portal vein in donors was 47.6 ± 12.8 cm/sec (normal, 44 cm/sec). One hour after graft reperfusion in the recipient, the mean portal Vmax was significantly higher at 94.7 ± 28.4 cm/sec (P = .004), but by 3 months follow-up, mean portal Vmax had fallen to 58.8 ± 37.8 (P = .01). Recipient portal vein Vmax highly correlated with portal flow (r = 0.7, P = .01). Increased recipient total bilirubin on postoperative day 2 correlated highly with higher recipient portal flow one hour after transplant (r = 0.6; P = .03). Portal vein velocity/flow dramatically increases after reperfusion, returning to baseline about 3 months after transplant. Evaluation of hepatic and portal venous flow is a relatively easy skill to acquire. Intraoperative ultrasound may enable the surgeon to predict graft dysfunction and possibly, may be used to implement pre-emptive therapies. (Liver Transpl 2002;8:809-813.)     

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.     

Technical refinement in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation using right lobe graft

OBJECTIVE: To report the authors' experience with living donor liver transplantation in adults using right lobe liver grafts, performed by a modified technique. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The initial results of seven living donor liver transplants in adults using extended right lobe grafts were satisfactory, but serious complications occurred in two donors, and six recipients required repeat laparotomy. Another 11 similar operations were performed. Further evaluation was made with the aim of improving the postoperative outcome. METHODS: From December 1996 to August 1998, 11 patients underwent living donor liver transplantation using right lobe grafts. The first four patients underwent surgery using methods previously designed and the next seven underwent a modification designed to minimize devitalized tissues on the liver transection surface, improve hepatic venous drainage, and reduce the number of hepatic duct orifices. RESULTS: There were no donor deaths. Donor complications included cholestasis (n = 1) and minor wound infection (n = 1). All the first four recipients required a repeat laparotomy for infected necrotic liver transection surface (n = 1), acute pancreatitis (n = 1), hepatic vein thrombosis (n = 1), and leakage from one of the two bilioenteric anastomoses (n = 1). The patient with hepatic vein thrombosis died. In the last seven recipients, all of whom survived the operation, one required a repeat laparotomy with the discovery of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus culture of fibrinous exudate at the left subphrenic peritoneum, and another had right hepatic duct stump necrosis. The latter was likely related to hypovolemic shock secondary to bleeding from the right saphenous vein on removal of a hemofiltration catheter. Comparison of the incidence of repeat laparotomy between the first four and the remaining seven recipients showed a significant trend of improvement. Combining the result of the seven patients reported previously, the improvement in terms of relaparotomy rate is significant. CONCLUSION: With modification of surgical technique, living donor liver transplantation in adults using right lobe liver grafts can become a relatively safe procedure.     

急诊右半肝活体肝移植治疗急性肝衰竭

目的 探讨急诊右半肝活体肝移植（living donor liver transplantation,LDLT）治疗急性肝衰竭（acute liver failure,ALF）的价值。方法 同顾性分析我院自2006年11月至2007年2月6例接受急诊LDLT的ALF患者临床资料,评价转归和疗效。结果 全部供体术后均未发生严重并发症或死亡,3周后恢复日常生活。全部受体均接受不含肝中静脉的右半肝,手术顺利,术后48h内苏醒,未发生神经系统并发症。与术前水平相比,血氨术后第1天明显下降至（53.3±21.6）μmol/L （P〈0.05）;总胆红素（TB）术后第1天即可恢复至（212±130）μmol/L（P〈0.05）,以后呈继续下降趋势;凝血酶原时间（PT）术后1周内即可降至正常水平（13±1）s（P〈0.05）;国际标准化比值（INR）变化与PT类似;丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）术后1周内持续下降,至术后第7天降至较低水平。1例患者术后第10天发生急性排斥反应经激素冲击疗法治愈,其余5例均未发生严重并发症。全组受体均于术后1月内康复出院。结论 急诊右半肝LDLT能有效治疗ALF。     

Adult living donor liver transplantation: living donation of the right liver lobe

Background Adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become a routine treatment option for patients waiting for liver transplantation. In European and North American countries, LDLT for adult recipients is mainly performed with right lobe grafts. Indications, when compared to deceased donor liver transplantation, are controversial. Materials and methods In our institution, patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis, non-resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma, viral hepatitis associated cirrhosis, as well as cholestatic liver and biliary disease are considered good candidates for LDLT. Results In this overview, donor evaluation, graft selection, and the donor operation with special regard to operative techniques and strategies are discussed. For visualization, a 5-min video sequence of the standard donor operation as performed in our institution is attached. Conclusion Given the ongoing shortage of donor organs, adult LDLT has become a routine treatment option for patients waiting for liver transplantation. The associated inevitable risk for the healthy donor, however, remains ethically controversial. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Surgical procedures for management of right portal venous branching in right lobe living donor liver transplantation

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to describe the surgical management of right portal venous (PV) branches encountered among 104 cases of right lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: From January 2002 to September 2007, we performed 104 cases of right-lobe LDLT including 11-donors who had anomalous right portal venous branches (APVB). One recipient had PV sponginess hemangioma. The donor right PV branches were type I in 93 cases, type II (trifurcation) in nine cases, and type III in two cases. Except one narrow bridge of tissue excision, the PV branches were transected on the principal of donor priority: PV branches were excised approximately 2 to 3 mm from the confluence while leaving the donor's main portal vein and confluence intact. In type II APVB, donor PV branches were obtained with two separate openings in six cases; with two separate openings joined as a common orifice at the back table in two cases, with one common opening with a narrow bridge of tissue in one case. In type III APVB, the donor right anterior and posterior PV branches were obtained with separate openings. The donor right PV branches with one common opening in 92 cases of type I PV branches and a joined common orifice in three cases of type II APVB were anastomosed to the recipient's main portal vein or to right branching. As the unavailable recipient PV for sponginess hemangioma, one case of type I right PV branches was end-to-end anastomosed to one of the variceal lateral veins of about 1 cm diameter in a pediatric patient. The PV were reconstructed as double anastomoses in six type II APVB and in one type III APVB obtained with two separate PV openings. In the another type III APVB reconstruction, we successfully utilized a novel U-shaped vein graft interposition. RESULTS: The type II APVB donor receiving a narrow bridge of portal vein tissue excision developed portal vein thrombosis on the third postoperative day and underwent reexploration for thrombectomy. There were no vascular complications, such as portal vein thrombosis or stricture among other donors or all recipients. The velocity of blood flow in the U-graft was normal. The anastomosis between the type I donor right portal vein and recipient variceal lateral vein was unobstructed. CONCLUSION: Right PV branches should be excised on the principal of donor priority while leaving the donor's main portal vein and confluence intact. Single anastomoses was the fundamental procedure of right branch reconstruction. Double anastomoses could be used as the main management for type II and type III APVB reconstruction. U-graft interposition may be a potential procedure for type III APVB reconstruction. Single anastomoses between the donor right portal vein and the recipient variceal lateral vein may be performed when recipient portal vein is unavailable. These innovations for excision and reconstruction of right PV branches were feasible, safe, and had good outcomes.     

成人右半肝活体肝移植胆道重建探讨

目的探讨成人右半肝活体肝移植胆道重建的技术问题.方法回顾性分析我院2007年4月至2009年5月完成的21例成人右半肝活体肝移植资料.供肝右肝管与受者肝总管单个吻合10例;供肝两支胆管开口分别与受者两支胆管吻合5例;供肝胆管整形成一个开口与受者胆管吻合5例,其中采用T管支撑2例,Y型管支撑1例;右肝管空肠Roux-en-Y吻合1例.结果4例受者术后1个月内死亡,1例因术后急性肝坏死行再次肝移植.其余受者存活至今,1年存活率为77.65%.受者术后发生胆道并发症7例,其中胆漏5例,胆道狭窄2例,均经外科手术处理痊愈.胆管与胆管单个吻合口组、胆管整形成一个开口与受者胆管吻合组和两支胆管开口分别与受者胆管吻合组比较,胆道并发症发生率差异无统计学意义(x2=0.659,P=0.719).结论根据供受者胆管情况,可以灵活采用单根胆管吻合、胆管整形、分别吻合和肝管空肠吻合等不同重建方式.后壁连续、前壁间断以及显微外科技术的采用可能有助于降低胆道并发症的发生率.     

Effective anatomic reconstruction of the middle hepatic vein in modified right lobe graft living donor liver transplantation

INTRODUCTION: Adult liver transplantation using the right lobe graft without a middle hepatic vein (MHV; modified right lobe graft) has widely been used to compensate for the cadaveric organ shortage. To provide appropriate functional graft volume in the right lobe graft used for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), successful reconstruction of the MHV is required. We have described herein the effectiveness of an anatomic MHV reconstruction technique with tailoring donor hepatectomy and uniformed MHV reconstruction for modified right lobe grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2005 to August 2006, 15 adult patients received modified right lobe graft LDLT using a donor hepatectomy technique that exposed the right side of the MHV combined with a bench procedure that reconstructed the modified right lobe graft into the shape of extended right lobe graft, and a modified piggyback anastomosis. RESULTS: A total of 42 V5/V8s were reconstructed with 15 newly formed MHVs. The mean estimated congestion area was 4.2+/-2.7% of the total graft volume on computed tomography. The mean pressure gradient between the reconstructed MHV and the recipient inferior vena cava was 2.1+/-1.6 mmHg on postoperative day (POD) 7. None of the patients required any procedure for an outflow problem. The patency rates of the reconstructed MHV and its tributaries were 100% (15/15) and 95.2% (40/42), respectively, at POD 30; 100% (15/15) and 73.8% (31/42) at POD 60; and 86.7% (13/15) and 54.8% (23/42) at POD 90. All recipients are currently alive with good liver function. CONCLUSION: Our procedure seems to be effective for the reconstruction of MHV and its tributaries, and could make modified right lobe graft into the anatomic figure of extended right lobe graft as well as achieve the physiologic advantages of an extended right lobe graft.     

活体右半肝供体的安全性

目的 探讨活体右半肝供体的安全性。方法 对2002年1月至2005年6月施行的13例活体右半肝移植中供体的资料进行回顾性研究。不阻断入肝血流,在肝中静脉右侧,用超声刀离断肝组织得到右半供肝。通过计算得到标准肝体积及残余左半肝的比例。结果 右半供肝切取术平均失血490ml,平均输血440ml。围手术期平均输入人血白蛋白85g。1例供体门静脉分为3支,2例供体右后与右前胆管汇入左肝管,1例左外与左内胆管先后与右肝管汇合成肝总管,术中处理恰当,门静脉左干血流及左肝管胆汁引流保持通畅。2例供肝轻度脂肪变。术后第1天肝功能均有不同程度损害,但术后1周恢复到接近正常水平。术后并发症包括1例腹腔内出血,2例切口脂肪液化和1例乳糜漏。所有供体恢复好并回到原工作岗位。结论 只要保证左半肝血管与胆管通畅,残余肝体积在30％以上及手术对残余肝无大的损伤,右半供肝切取是安全的。     

成人间活体扩大右半肝移植治疗急性肝功能衰竭

目的介绍成人间活体扩大右半肝移植治疗急性肝功能衰竭的临床经验。方法对1例42岁男性急性肝功能衰竭合并肝性脑病Ⅲ期患者行活体扩大右半肝移植治疗。其45岁姐姐为供者,CT评估供者包含肝中静脉的扩大右半肝体积为728．4cm^2（801g）,供肝／受者体重比为1．3％。供肝之肝右、中静脉整形后与受者整形后之肝右静脉行端-侧吻合;供受者门静脉、肝动脉行端．端吻合。供肝胆管整形后与受者胆总管行端-端吻合。结果供、受者手术均成功。供者术后恢复顺利,受者术后8h恢复意识,14d后丙氨酸转氨酶、总胆红素等指标首次下降至正常水平。术后16d曾出现转氨酶明显升高,给予甲泼尼龙1000mg冲击治疗后恢复正常。随访至今,供受者已健康生存8个月,均未出现胆管、肝动脉及静脉回流等并发症。结论扩大右半肝移植在技术上完全可行。能为成人患者提供足够重量的移植物,尤其对于急性肝功能衰竭患者具有重要意义,术前精确的影像学评估,熟练的肝切除和肝移植技术是确保该类手术成功的关键因素。     

采用不含肝中静脉的右半肝行成人间活体肝移植

目的探讨采用不含肝中静脉的右半肝行成人间活体肝移植的可行性及安全性。方法2002年1月至2005年8月,我院施行了16例成人间右半肝活体肝移植,术中采用了不含肝中静脉的右半肝移植物,同时进行了一系列改良的手术技术包括肝右静脉的重建,右肝下静脉的重建,肝中静脉分支的搭桥等改进。结果全组供者无严重并发症及死亡。前2例受者中,1例发生肝静脉吻合口狭窄,1例因发生小肝综合征,死于肝功进行性恶化。后14例受者中发生并发症5例:急性排斥反应,肝动脉栓塞,胆漏,左膈下脓肿及肺部感染各1例;1例再移植术后肺部感染死于MODS。14例中除肝右静脉与下腔静脉(IVC)直接吻合外,其中5例加行右肝下静脉重建,另5例采用自体大隐静脉搭桥行肝中静脉分支与IVC重建,保证了右肝的流出道通畅。移植物与受者重量比(GRWR)为0.72%~1.15%,11例<1.0%,其中2例<0.8%,无小肝综合征发生。结论采用了改进的手术技术,特别是肝静脉流出道的充分重建可有效的避免小肝综合征,从而使采用不含肝中静脉的活体右半肝移植成为安全可靠的手术方式。