title: Anatomical keys and pitfalls in living donor liver transplantation.
abstract: The surgery of living donor liver transplantation is more technically challenging than cadaveric whole liver transplantation and liver resection for the treatment of various pathological conditions. It requires a thorough understanding of the intra- and extra-hepatic anatomical relationships between the portal vein, hepatic artery, biliary tract, and hepatic vein, and also their respective contributions to liver physiology. Although a precise understanding of general anatomical principles is the key to correctly performing living donor liver transplantation procedures, anatomic anomalies are often present, and the means of detecting them and the surgical methods of coping with them represent technical challenges. In this monograph, we describe the anatomical keys and pitfalls of living donor liver transplantation surgery based on our own experience with more than 1800 hepatectomies, and 150 living donor liver transplantations. We also elaborate on techniques of selective intermittent vascular occlusion and their teleological and practical background.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makuuchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takayama
mesh_terms: D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002758:Cholangiography; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008102:Liver Circulation; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology; D019520:Living Donors; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology