title: Living-donor right hepatectomy with or without inclusion of middle hepatic vein: comparison of morbidity and outcome in 56 patients.
abstract: Venous congestion of segments V and VIII is observed frequently in living-donor right lobe liver transplants without middle hepatic vein (MHV) drainage, and can be a cause of graft dysfunction and failure. Inclusion of the MHV with the graft is controversial, however, because of the perceived potential for increased donor morbidity. We compared the outcome of living liver donors in whom the MHV was either left intact in the donor (group 1; n = 28) or was removed with the graft (group 2; n = 28). All prospective donors completed an extensive multidisciplinary evaluation to determine suitability for surgery and to ensure that the MHV could be removed safely without compromising venous outflow from the remaining liver. Patient demographics including age, weight, body-mass index, and liver volumetry as determined by computerized tomography were similar in both groups. Operative time in group 2 was significantly shorter than in group 1. There was no difference in estimated blood loss, transfusion requirements, peak serum liver tests, time interval from surgery to complete normalization of liver tests, complications, and length of hospitalization. We conclude that including the MHV with living-donor right lobe grafts can be performed safely in most donors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Multiorgan Transplantation program, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. mark.cattral@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cattral
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McGilvray
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adcock
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Les
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lilly
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Girgrah
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement