Laparoscopic Living Donor Hepatectomy for Pediatric Liver Transplantation

Living donor liver transplantation is a well established modality, especially for pediatric transplantation with excellent early graft function and long-term results. Left lateral sectionectomy through open approach is a well-standardized procedure. Considering our acquired experience in both laparoscopic liver resection and standard open surgery for live donation in pediatric and adult patients, we decided to offer, for the first time in Belgium, a laparoscopic approach for the left lateral sectionectomy to a young mother. The patient was a child 6-months old, affected by biliary atresia and rapidly deteriorating while waiting on a deceased donor liver graft. Surgical technique and key-points of this procedure in the living donor are hereby discussed.