Simplifying living donor liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Living donor liver transplantation is a complex surgical operation. Treatment policies and operative techniques evolved in the last two decades.


METHODS
Our center's experience in living donor liver transplantation was reviewed in conjunction with relevant publications in the literature.


RESULTS
The surgical techniques and perioperative surgical therapeutics could be modified towards simplicity. Examples include regular inclusion of the middle hepatic vein without compromising the venous outflow of the donor's remnant left liver. This provides excellent venous outflow, which is crucial for a small-for-size graft. Immunosuppression and hepatitis B suppression are steroid free and hepatitis B immunoglobulin free respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The most practical way to achieve high graft and recipient survival rates with an acceptably low donor risk is through design of a protocol that simplifies the surgery and postoperative management.
Chan
See Ching
SC
Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
Lo
Chung Mau
CM
Fan
Sheung Tat
ST
D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D019520:Living Donors; D015996:Survival Rate
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents