Hepatic vein reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Living donor liver transplantation has emerged as a response to the cadaveric graft shortage, especially for adult recipients. Both right and left liver grafts are widely used, although some technical problems remain unresolved. Herein we describe our technique for reconstruction of the venous outflow in living donor liver transplantation.


METHODS
From April 1986 to September 2004, 1012 liver transplantations were performed including 30 living donor liver transplantations between April 1995 and September 2004. We have selected the first 28 cases to ensure a mean follow-up of 21.07 +/- 13.11 months. We transplanted 18 right lobe grafts, 7 left lobe grafts, and 3 left lateral segment grafts. A surgical technique is described herein.


RESULTS
No venous outflow obstruction developed among living donor liver transplantation recipients.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend reconstruction of the hepatic veins in living donor liver transplantation including joining together the three hepatic veins in the recipient to avoid venous outflow obstruction.
Elola-Olaso
A Moreno
AM
Servicio de Cirugia General, Aparato Digestivo y Trasplante de Organos Abdominales, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. morenoalmudena@hotmail.com
Gonzalez
E Moreno
EM
Diaz
J C Meneu
JC
Garcia García
I
I
Usera
M Abradelo
MA
Romero
J
J
Perez-Saborido
B
B
Fraile
M
M
Manrique
A
A
D005190:Family; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*