title: Arterial anastomosis in a pediatric patient receiving a right extended split liver transplant: a case report.
abstract: We report a case of a pediatric patient who received a right-extended liver transplant. The size of the recipient hepatic artery did not match with the donor right hepatic arterial stump. Moreover, recipient arterial anatomy made the direct anastomosis difficult or at increased risk for complications. The recipient's splenic artery was then mobilized, divided and anastomosed to the donor's right hepatic artery. The spleen was preserved and revascularization through collaterals is demonstrated by Angio CT Scan. Doppler US of the transplanted liver demonstrated good flow through the liver and the patient was discharged with perfect liver function. Splenic artery is perfectly suited for hepatic artery anastomosis. The use of splenic artery is favored in particular situations as in the case of a pediatric recipient receiving a right-extended liver graft with small caliber artery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation (IsMeTT), Palermo, Italy. rverzaro@ismett.edu
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verzaro
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cintorino
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: di Francesco
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Settimo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gridelli
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002648:Child; D005953:Glycogen Storage Disease Type I / Q000601:surgery*; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*