Modified hepatic outflow tract reconstruction in piggyback liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the experience in modified reconstruction of the hepatic outflow tract during piggyback liver transplantation at our hospital.


METHODS
The clinical data on 67 patients undergoing piggyback liver transplantation with modified hepatic outflow tract reconstruction from January 1999 to October 2002 were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
In this group, 7 patients (10.45%) died perioperatively. Complications included: pulmonary infection (38 patients); multiple organ system failure (10), intraperitoneal bleeding (6), acute respiratory distress syndrome (14), thrombosis of the hepatic artery (1), and bile leakage (1). No hepatic outflow occluded. Two recipients survived for over 3 years, 8 over 2 years, and 19 over a year.


CONCLUSIONS
Modified hepatic outflow reconstruction in piggyback liver transplantation may increase the success rate of liver transplantation and decrease technical complications.
Wang
Huai-Zhi
HZ
Southwest Hospital and Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of PLA, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Dong
Jia-Hong
JH
Wang
Shu-Guang
SG
Bie
Ping
P
Cai
Jing-Xiu
JX
Lu
Qian
Q
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery