【Abstract】ObjectiveTo study the advances in use of imaging in the evaluation of living donor liver. Methods The literatures in recent years on the use of imaging in evaluation of living donor liver were reviewed. ResultsPreoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the donor allowed accurate determination of liver volume and rough determination of macrovesicular hepatic steatosis of the liver. CT angiography could assess the anatomy of hepatic artery, portal vein and hepatic veins. Intraoperative cholangiography allowed detection of the anatomy of the biliary tree. ConclusionImaging techniques are widely used in the evaluation of liver volume, vasculature and biliary system in the living donor liver.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo report the author’s experience with the first case of an adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) using cryopreserved vena cava graft in postheptic vena cava reconstruction. MethodsA 35-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of BCS complicated with inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction received medical treatment and radiologic intervention for nine months, no relief of the symptoms could be achieved. Finally, the patient underwent LDLT, which required posthepatic vena cava reconstructed using cryopreserved vena cava graft. ResultsThe patient has had an uneventful course since the LDLT. ConclusionWe believe that LDLT combined with posthepatic IVC reconstruction using cryopreserved vena cava graft is considered to be a sound modality for IVC obstructed BCS.
Objective To investigate the clinical choice on graft size and the type of donor’s hepatectomy in adult living related partial liver transplantation. Methods The literatures in recent years on the donor’s evaluation, the size of liver grafts, the types of donor hepatectomy and safety of donor in adult living related partial liver transplantation were reviewed.Results The size of liver graft is a crucial factor related to the safety of donor and the prognosis of the recipient. GW/ESLW≥30%, GW/BW≥0.8% may be the lowest limits. Left lobe contained middle hepatic vein, extended left lobe with leftside caudle lobe, right lobe or extended right lobe contained middle hepatic vein may be the practical choice.Conclusion It is important to make a reasonable choice of liver graft according to the estimation of GW/ESLW or GW/BW, and the anatomy of liver in adult living related partial liver transplantation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate donor safety in living donor liver transplantation. MethodsThe clinical data of 356 donors underwent living liver donation in our center from January 2001 to September 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into pre-2008 group(before January 2008) and post-2008 group(after January 2008). The donor safety was evaluated with regard to three aspects, i.e. complications, liver function, and quality of life. Results①There was no donor death in our center.②The overall complications rate was 23.3%(83/356). The proportion of ClavienⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, andⅣcomplications was 50.6%(42/83), 26.5%(22/83), 21.7%(18/83), and 1.2%(1/83), respectively. In all the donors, the incidence of ClavienⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, andⅣcomplications was 11.8%(42/356), 6.2%(22/356), 5.1%(18/356), and 0.3%(1/356), respectively. The overall complications rate in the post-2008 group was significantly lower than that in the pre-2008 group〔18.1%(41/227) versus 32.6%(42/129), P < 0.01〕. The most common complication was the biliary complication with an incidence of 8.4%(30/356).③The postoperative liver dysfunction was transient and generally retur-ned to normal level within a week.④The donor's quality of life was generally satisfied as assessed by the SF-36 tool, and 94.8%(239/252) of them would donate again if necessary. ConclusionEver improving surgical and anesthetic techniques, together with strict donor selection and specialized perioperative management, could guarantee a low donor morbidity and a satisfactory long-term prognosis.
Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of postoperative liver reserve function and laboratory liver function as well as liver volume regeneration, and their potential relationship with short-term clinical outcomes after adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods The data of 30 recipients underwent LDLT were prospectively collected. The plasma clearance (K) by indocyanine green (ICG) excretive test, liver function test by laboratory methods, liver volume by CT and shortterm (lt;3 months) complications were analyzed. Results The graft recipient body weight ratio (GRBW) was 0.63%-1.43%. The hepatic volume of the recipients in the operation was (638±103) ml, which was smaller than that day 7, 30, and 90 after operation (Plt;0.001), but the hepatic volume at subsequent time point was not different from that at the former time point (Pgt;0.05). The KICG values of recipients among the day 3 〔(0.177±0.056)/min〕, 7 〔(0.183±0.061)/min〕, 30 〔(0.200±0.049)/min〕, and 90 〔(0.209±0.050)/min〕 after operation gradually increased, which was respectively higher than that of recipients before operation (P=0.006, P=0.002, Plt;0.001, and Plt;0.001). Compared with the baseline KICG 〔(0.228±0.036)/min〕 of the donors, the KICG of recipients showed significant variation on day 3 and 7 after operation (P=0.004 and P=0.015), and the KICG of recipients on day 30 and 90 after operation approached the baseline KICG (P=0.355 and P=0.915). The recipients were divided into good liver function group (n=23) and poor liver function group (n=7) according to total serum bilirubin on day 14 after operation. The KICG significantly dropped compared with the recipients of good liver function group on day 3 after operation (P=0.001). Conclusions The liver volume regenerates dramatically on day 7 after operation for the recipients. The ICG excretivetest shows that volume recovery occurs much more gradually than the recovery of function in the recipients. The ICG excretive test is a more reliable indicator of graft function and subsequent graft outcome early after LDLT.
Objective To research anesthetic management, pathophysiologic variation of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (A-ALDLT) and to probe how to improve anesthetic quality of A-ALDLT. Methods The clinical data of 47 donors from Sep. 2005 to Jan. 2007 in West China Hospital were reviewed. Intraoperative vital signs, anesthetic management, perioperative serum levels of HGB， Alb， ALT， AST, TBIL， APTT， PT were measured， and complications were assessed. Results The physical condition of all donors were good before operations and were all in grade Ⅰaccording to ASA. Under general anesthesia of intravenous and inhalation, electrocardiogram, O2 saturation, blood pressure and body temperature were continuously monitored. A radial arterial catheter and a central venous catheter were placed. Blood lavement was utilized intraoperatively in all patients. All donors maintained stable life signs intraoperatively. The average intraoperative blood losses was （603.13±317.00） ml, and donors were transfused with autologous blood 〔(381.25±171.15) ml〕, with only 4 donors required homologous blood transfusion. HR and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) showed no significantly variations intraoperatively (Pgt;0.05). Compared with controlled central venous pressure (CVP) before and right after hepatectomy, CVP increased significantly (P＜0.05) when intubation and abdomen-closing were carried. After hepatectomy and on the first day after operation, HGB and Alb decreased significantly (P＜0.05); ALT, AST and TBIL increased significantly (P＜0.05). Right after hepatectomy, PT increased instantly and significantly (P＜0.05); On the first day after operation, APTT began to increase significantly (P＜0.05). All donors came around completely and were extubated in the liver transplantation intensive care unit on the first day after operation. There were 3 cases (6.38%) of postoperative complication, which were biliary leakage, portal vein thrombosis and serious pleural effusion. Those 3 donors were cured after treatment. Conclusion Inhalation and intravenous general anesthesia of propofol, remifen-tanil and isoflurane can maintain stable life signs and reduce liver injury. Steady anesthesia, sufficient oxygenation and effective blood protection measures, for example, by decreasing CVP to prevent bleeding and by reclaiming autologous blood to avoid transfusing homologous blood, are keys for the safety of the donor and the prevention of complications.
Objective To analyze the effect of monitoring and modulating the portal vein pressure and blood flow during living donor liver transplantation （LDLT） on preventing small-for-size-syndrome (SFSS). Methods Data of forty-four LDLT recipients between Oct.2007 and Oct.2008 were reviewed. Actual graft-to-recipient weight ratio（GRWR）, portal vein flow and pressure during operation and syndrome of SFSS after operation were recorded. The patients received splenectomy or splenic artery ligation according to actual GRWR, portal vein flow and pressure and WBC. Relationships between patients’ GRWR, portal vein flow, portal vein pressure and occurrence of SFSS were analyzed. Results Six patients received splenectomy and 7 patients received splenic artery ligation to decrease the portal vein flow and pressure during the operation. The portal vein flow and pressure decreased after splenectomy （Plt;0.05）. The portal vein pressure decreased （Plt;0.05） and the portal vein flow had no significant change after splenic artery ligation （P＞0.05）. No SFSS occurred after operation. Conclusion Modulation of portal vein flow and pressure by splenectomy or splenic artery ligation during LDLT operation can decrease the portal vein flow and pressure, and which can prevent the incidence of SFSS.
ObjectiveTo review the causes, prevention methods, and therapies of the small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). MethodsThe literatures about SFSS in recent years were reviewed and summarized. ResultsThe donor’s age, graft steatosis level, MELD score of the recipient, portal hypertension, low outflow, and graft size were risk factors of SFSS. Ideal donor, splenectomy, ligating splenic artery, keeping a satisfactory intraoperative outflow, early diagnosis and active therapy could obviously decrease the incidence of SFSS. ConclusionThe risk factors of SFSS can be predicted before operation, and the positive actions can be used to prevent or cure the SFSS.
Objective To analyze the risk factors associated with fungal infections in adult recipients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods Data of 189 recipients from January 2006 to December 2012 who received LDLT at our center were retrospectively analyzed. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for postoperative fungal infections. Results Postoperative fungal infection was found in 12 recipients. The most common infectious site was lung, whereas the most common fungal pathogen was Candida albicans. Multivariate analysis suggested preoperative low albumin level [HR=0.792, 95%CI (0.694, 0.903), P=0.001], massive intraoperative red blood cell transfusion [HR=4.322, 95%CI (1.308, 14.277), P=0.016] and longer postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay [HR=3.399, 95%CI (1.004, 11.506), P=0.049] were the independent risk factors for postoperative fungal infections. Conclusions Lung is the most common fungal infection site after LDLT. Preoperative low albumin level, massive intraoperative red blood cell transfusion and longer postoperative ICU contribute to fungal infections after LDLT.
Objective To summarize the experience of the prevention of early arterial compl ications after hepatic artery (HA) reconstruction in adult-to-adult l iving donor l iver transplantation (A-A LDLT). Methods Between January 2002and March 2008, 127 patients underwent A-A LDLT. Of the 131 donors (127 cases of right lobe graft, 4 cases of left lobe graft), there were 69 males and 62 females with a mean age of 36.2 years (range, 19-65 years); in 127 recipients, there were 109 males and 18 females with a mean age of 41.9 years (range, 18-64 years). All patients underwent microsurgical reconstruction of HA between grafts and recipients. The artery of graft was anastomosed to the right HA in 62 cases, to the proper HA in 34 cases, to the left HA in 7 cases, to the common HA in 6 cases, and aberrant right HA rising from superior mesenteric artery in 8 cases. Interposition bypass using great saphenous vein (GSV) was performed between the donor right HA and recipient common HA in 5 cases. Bypass was performed between the donor right HA and recipient abdominal aorta using GSV in 2 cases, or using cryopreserved cadaveric il iac vessels in 3 cases. Results Of these 127 cases, hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in 2 recipients (1.6%) at 1 day and 7 days following A-A LDLT, which were successfully revascularized with GSV between right HA of donor and abdominal aorta of recipient, HAT in 1 patient occurred on the 46th postoperative day with no symptom. No other arterial compl ication such as HA stenosis and aneurysm occurred in recipients. All patients were followed up 9-67 months. At 1, 2, and 3 years, actual survival rateswere 82.2%, 64.7%, and 59.2%. No death was related to HA compl ication in peri-operative period. Conclusion The anatomic structure and variation of HA, the pathological changes, as well as surgical technique in HA reconstruction, have direct impact on the risk of postoperative compl ications of HA reconstruction.