title: Donor arterial variations in liver transplantation: management and outcome of 527 consecutive grafts.
abstract: The impact of donor arterial variations and their management was investigated retrospectively in 527 consecutive allografts. Anomalous arteries were found in 161 grafts (30.6 per cent). There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of arterial complications between grafts with normal (3.6 per cent) and abnormal (5.6 per cent) anatomy. However, there was a higher incidence of arterial complications in transplants requiring multiple arterial anastomoses (P = 0.02), or anastomosis of donor vessels to recipient aorta with (P = 0.0003) or without (P = 0.04) an interposition graft for arterial reconstruction. The incidence of biliary complications was similar in grafts with a normal (18.8 per cent) or anomalous (18.0 per cent) arterial supply. Anomalies of hepatic arterial anatomy occur in one-third of all livers and do not compromise graft outcome unless multiple anastomoses or direct anastomosis to the recipient aorta are required for arterial reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Clinical School, Transplant Unit, UK.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Soin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Friend
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokat
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Calne
mesh_terms: D000783:Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology