Superior vena cava graft for right liver and right lateral sector transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The usefulness of cryopreserved superior vena cava (SVC) grafts for venous reconstruction remains to be evaluated in right liver and right lateral sector transplantation.


METHODS
Reconstruction of the hepatic vein was performed when the congested area in the liver graft was significant. A vein graft with a suitable shape and length meeting the demands for the venoplasty was selected, and SVC grafts were used in 20 recipients. Surgical techniques were classified into five types according to the necessity of middle or short hepatic vein reconstruction in the liver graft. Surgical outcomes and vein graft patency were evaluated.


RESULTS
All 20 recipients survived the operation without any complications caused by congestion. Liver functions were well recovered in the early postoperative period. The 1-year primary patency rates of cryopreserved vein grafts used for reconstructed right hepatic veins, inferior right hepatic veins, and middle hepatic vein tributaries were 100%, 94%, and 42%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
SVC grafts were feasible for outflow tract reconstruction in right liver and right lateral sector transplantation, although the long-term patency of the grafts for middle hepatic vein reconstruction remains to be evaluated.
Hashimoto
Takuya
T
Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
Sugawara
Yasuhiko
Y
Kishi
Yoji
Y
Akamatsu
Nobuhisa
N
Matsui
Yuichi
Y
Kokudo
Norihiro
N
Motomura
Noboru
N
Takamoto
Shinichi
S
Makuuchi
Masatoshi
M
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases