Reconstruction of the middle hepatic vein tributaries using the recipient's recanalized umbilical vein in right-lobe living-donor liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Right-lobe grafts without the middle hepatic vein (MHV) can cause severe congestion of the anterior segment in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, the indications and methods for reconstructing the MHV or its tributaries remain controversial.


METHODS
We herein describe two cases of the successful use of the recipient's recanalized umbilical vein as an interposition graft to drain the major MHV tributaries in right-lobe LDLTs.


RESULTS
After surgery, both right-lobe grafts are currently functioning well and all of the reconstructed venous tributaries have been confirmed to be patent by doppler ultrasonography. The histopathological features of the recanalized umbilical vein showed an intact intima with thickened media.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the recipient's recanalized umbilical vein is a good option for reconstructing MHV tributaries in right-lobe LDLTs.
Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. ysoejima@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Yuji
Y
Soejima
Mitsuo
M
Shimada
Taketoshi
T
Suehiro
Tomoharu
T
Yoshizumi
Keiji
K
Kishikawa
Yoshihiko
Y
Maehara
D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000637:transplantation*