Surgical text for orthotopic liver transplantation model with small-for-size graft in the pig: key techniques and pitfalls.
BACKGROUND
Challenges with small-for-size grafts are a critical issue in the liver transplantation field, and a reliable and reproducible animal model is required.


METHODS
We performed 50 orthotopic liver transplantations in pigs with a 30% graft, and retrospectively investigated the learning curves. We modified our surgical procedures according to our experience. Here, we describe our current procedures in detail with retrospective evaluation of our experience. The artery to the right lateral lobe crosses the portal vein trunk. A 30% graft is taken using the right lateral lobe attached to a sufficient length of aorta. Hepatic venous plasty is undertaken on the back table to attach a venous patch to the anterior wall of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava, which has no extrahepatic margin. To minimize hypoperfusion to the digestive tract, an aorta-to-aorta anastomosis is performed in a side-to-end fashion in a minimal surgical field before suprahepatic inferior vena cava and portal vein reconstruction. A temporary transjugular portosystemic shunt is also inserted before suprahepatic inferior vena cava reconstruction. The recipient suprahepatic inferior vena cava is clamped at the intramediastinal level, including the margins of the diaphragm in the clamp.


RESULTS
Although survival rate during first forty cases were under 0.2, a reasonable survival rate of 0.6 had been achieved after the experiences of forty cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Precedent arterial reconstruction using an aorta-to-aorta anastomosis minimizes congestive damage and shortens operative time. Hepatic venous reconstruction should be completed without any outflow block, by using venous plasty and adequate clamping.
Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (Tomohide Hori, Shintaro Yagi, Taku Iida, Kenji Uryuhara, Fumitaka Oike, Shinji Uemto).
Tomohide
T
Hori
Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (Tomohide Hori, Shintaro Yagi, Taku Iida, Kenji Uryuhara, Fumitaka Oike, Shinji Uemto).
Shintaro
S
Yagi
Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (Tomohide Hori, Shintaro Yagi, Taku Iida, Kenji Uryuhara, Fumitaka Oike, Shinji Uemto).
Taku
T
Iida
First Department of Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan (Kentaro Taniguchi, Chiduru Yamamoto, Reo Sakakura, Kenji Nakamura).
Kentaro
K
Taniguchi
First Department of Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan (Kentaro Taniguchi, Chiduru Yamamoto, Reo Sakakura, Kenji Nakamura).
Chiduru
C
Yamamoto
First Department of Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan (Kentaro Taniguchi, Chiduru Yamamoto, Reo Sakakura, Kenji Nakamura).
Reo
R
Sakakura
First Department of Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan (Kentaro Taniguchi, Chiduru Yamamoto, Reo Sakakura, Kenji Nakamura).
Kenji
K
Nakamura
Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (Tomohide Hori, Shintaro Yagi, Taku Iida, Kenji Uryuhara, Fumitaka Oike, Shinji Uemto).
Kenji
K
Uryuhara
Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (Tomohide Hori, Shintaro Yagi, Taku Iida, Kenji Uryuhara, Fumitaka Oike, Shinji Uemto).
Fumitaka
F
Oike
Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (Tomohide Hori, Shintaro Yagi, Taku Iida, Kenji Uryuhara, Fumitaka Oike, Shinji Uemto).
Shinji
S
Uemto
pig; porcine model; small-for-size graft; split liver; surgical technique