title: Low-dose heparin therapy during living donor right hepatectomy is associated with few side effects and does not increase vascular thrombosis in liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At many centers, various heparin doses have been administrated systemically during living donor partial hepatectomy in an effort to minimize the potential for graft vascular thrombosis, which could lead to delayed graft function. However, there is no consensus regarding the advisability of heparin administration during living donor hepatectomy for liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled 270 donors between 2005 and 2011 to investigate donor and recipient outcomes between a low dose (25 IU/kg) and a conventional dose of heparin (50 IU/kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The low-dose heparin group did not show an increased incidence of vascular thrombosis: the rates of hepatic artery and portal vein thromboses were not significantly different between the two groups (P = .935 and P = .158, respectively). In addition, injection of low-dose heparin reduced donor complications with significant differences in postoperative hospital stay (P < .001), donor operative time (P < .001), hemoglobin/hematocrit decrease (P = .05/P = .02) and hemorrhagic complications (P = .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of low-dose heparin during living donor hepatectomy can be used without worsening vascular thrombosis or donor complications.
authors: Center for Liver Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Yoo
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Y-K
authors: YK
authors: Kim
authors: S Y
authors: SY
authors: Cho
authors: S-J
authors: SJ
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D051799:Delayed Graft Function / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin