Initial experience in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation

Abstract

Objective To summarize the initial experience in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation(ALDLT),so as to improve the efficacy of ALDLT.Methods The clinical data of 31 adult patients who undelwent ALDLT from June 2006 to February 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of all the patients,8 was with decompensated cirrhosis,7 with acute liver failure,12 with hepatocellular carcinoma,2 with purpura of liver,1 with hilar cholangiocarcinoma,and 1 with Wilson disease.The liver grafts included 25 right lobes with middle hepatic vein(MHV),3 right lobes without MHV,1 right lobe with MHV+left lateral lobe,1 right lobe with MHV+left lobe.The remaining 1 patient underwent auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation with left lobe graft.Six post-transplantation complications occurred in 5 donors. Eleven post-transplantation complications occurred in 9 recipients,including 4 biliary complications,3 vascular complications,3 infection complications and 1 delayed healing of the incision.After ALDLT,2 recipients died of pulmonary infection and 1 of multiple aspergillus infection. Conclusions ALDLT has become an effective method to expand the source of liver grafts.Rational donor and recipient assessment,surgical procedure and postoperative management are key to ALDLT. Key words: Liver transplantation; Living donor