Hepatic Venous Outflow Reconstruction in Right Lobe Living-Donor Liver Graft Using Recipient's Superficial Femoral Vein

Abstract

Venous congestion of a liver graft from a life donor is a disastrous complication with a high risk of graft failure. For safety reasons, the middle hepatic vein (MHV) is currently unanimously left with the donor. As this vessel provides major venous draining of the right anterior sector, reconstruction of significant MHV tributaries is controversial. We describe here successful venous outflow reconstruction in adult-to-adult right lobe living-donor liver transplantation (RL-LDLT) using the recipient's superficial femoral vein (SFV). Six months after transplantation, graft function and perfusion are excellent, and the patient is free of venous morbidity related to the harvest of the SFV.