title: Cavocaval adult liver transplantation and retransplantation without venovenous bypass and without portocaval shunting: a prospective feasibility study in adult liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The original method of liver transplantation (LT) included recipient inferior vena cava (IVC) resection and the use of extracorporeal venovenous bypass (VVB). Refinements in technique permit transplantation to be done with IVC preservation and without VVB use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between November 1993 and November 2000, 202 consecutive grafts were performed in 188 adults (>/=16 years of age). Twelve patients (6.4%) received two and three retransplants (re-LT). Split grafting was performed 19 times (19 of 202 grafts, 9.4%). Risk factors included United Network of Organ Sharing status I (n=30, 16%), previous right upper abdominal surgery (n=32, 17.1%), caudate lobe encirclement of IVC (n=65, 32.2%), IVC (n=24, 11.9%), and splanchnic venous modification (n=58, 30.9%), transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (n=34, 16.8%), giant (>5 kg) liver tumor (n=6, 3%), septic necrosis of the caudate lobe (n=1, 0.5%), and previous cavocaval (n=13, 6.4%) or classical LT (n=5, 2.5%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  IVC preservation, avoidance of IVC cross clamping and of VVB use were possible in 98.9%, 93%, and 99.5% of 183 primary LT and in 89.5%, 84.2%, and 89.5% of 19 re-LT. Temporary portocaval shunting was never applied. Perioperative mortality was 1.2%. There was no allotransfusion in 73 (36%) grafts and 45 (22%) patients were immediately extubated. Permanent hepatic vein and caval problems were encountered in three (1.5%) grafts. One patient needed stent placement to treat IVC stenosis. Actual 3- and 12-month patient survival for whole, re-LT, and right-lobe split LT groups were 94.7%, 94.1%, 94.7%, 88.2%, 94.1%, and 89%. Three-month graft survival rates for these groups were 92.6%, 94.7%, and 84.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LT with IVC preservation and without VVB use and portocaval shunting is possible in nearly all primary transplants and in the majority of re-LT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery, Liver Transplant Program, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Lerut@chir.ucl.ac.be.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roggen
authors.forename: Pierre-François
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Laterre
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Danse
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goffette
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aunac
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlier
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Kock
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Obbergh
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veyckemans
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerrieri
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reding
authors.forename: Jean-Bernard
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Otte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery*