title: Reconstruction of Isolated Inferior Right Hepatic Vein(s) in Right Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts: A New Feasible Concept, Technique of 'Bridging Conduit Venoplasty' and Outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND Right lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remains the most common form of liver transplantation in Asia. However, reconstruction of the venous outflow in a right liver allograft may pose technical difficulties if hepatic venous variations are present. Recently, much emphasis has been given to the reconstruction of large and multiple inferior right hepatic veins (IRHVs). The method of reconstructive technique, type of vascular grafts, and the outcome after the procedure have been a point of debate. In this report we discuss the IRHV reconstruction techniques using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular grafts and the outcomes after such reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Out of 262 right liver allografts that underwent venous reconstruction using ePTFE vascular grafts, IRHVs required either venoplasty or second inferior vena cava (IVC) anastomosis in 99 recipients. Depending upon type of IRHV reconstruction, the recipients were divided in 2 groups: Group A (n=52): IRHV venoplasty using ePTFE graft, and group B (n=47): Direct IRHV-to-IVC anastomosis. The outcome after LDLT was compared for these 2 groups. RESULTS The ePTFE venoplasty group had significantly shorter warm ischemia time as compared to the direct to IVC anastomosis group (p<0.01, 95% confidence interval -10.96 to -2.92). There were no thrombotic complications in either group of recipients; 4.2% of the recipients from group B developed hepatic venous stenosis but with no clinical deterioration; and 1 patient from group A developed ePTFE graft migration in the second portion of the duodenum that required surgical exploration. CONCLUSIONS The IRHVs drain a considerable portion of the posterior sector of right liver allografts and thus must be reconstructed. Use of ePTFE vascular grafts for IRHV venoplasty is a safe and feasible concept that facilitates the outflow reconstruction of liver allografts.
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorat
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Shih-Chao
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Horng-Ren
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Ping-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Ming-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Te-Hung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Anaesthesiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Kin-Shing
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan|China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan|Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
authors.forename: Long-Bin
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Jeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058017:Vascular Grafting / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene