Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation Research Articles

Effect of graft size matching on pediatric living-donor liver transplantation in Japan.

The Japanese Liver Transplantation Society is a cooperative research consortium, established in 1980 to characterize and follow trends in patient and graft survival in all liver transplants in Japan. This study evaluated the effect of graft size matching on survival in pediatric recipients of living donor liver transplant. Between November 1989 and December 2010, there were 2224 patients aged < 18 years who received living-donor liver transplant in Japan. Survival was evaluated according to graft size matching. There were 998 male and 1226 female donors (median age, 35.2 y). There was no donor mortality associated with surgery. The median age of recipients was 4.0 years (range, 13 d to 17.9 y) and body weight was 16.6 kg (range, 2.6 to 90 kg). The survival of living-donor liver transplant recipients was greater for pediatric than adult recipients at 1 year (adult, 81%; pediatric, 88%), 5 years (adult, 72%; pediatric, 85%), 10 years (adult, 66%; pediatric, 83%), and 15 years (adult, 57%; pediatric, 80%) after transplant (difference between adult and pediatric recipients: P ≤ .0001). In the 2224 recipients aged < 18 years, the graft types included left lateral segment in 1549 recipients (70%), left lobe in 500 recipients (23%), reduced left lateral segment in 96 recipients (4%), right lobe in 76 recipients (3%), and posterior segment in 3 recipients (0.1%). There was no significant difference in survival between recipients that had different graft types. However, recipients aged < 1 year (296 recipients) who received grafts with graft-to-recipient body weight ratio > 4.0% had significantly worse patient survival because of problems associated with large-for-size grafts. Living-donor liver transplant had greater survival in children than adult recipients. Graft-to-recipient body weight ratio was a significant prognostic factor in recipients aged < 1 year.

A new simplified technique of arterial reconstruction in pediatric living-donor liver transplantation: A comparison with the classical technique

Background/AimHepatic artery anastomosis (HAA) is the most important aspect of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), and it is currently performed by a specialized microsurgeon using micro surgical techniques, with interrupted sutures and the aid of an operative microscope. To simplify the procedure, we studied a new, simpler technique performed by pediatric transplant surgeons with continuous sutures and the same 3.5× magnification loupe used during other transplant procedures. The aim of this study was to compare these two hepatic artery reconstruction techniques in two pediatric LDLT series. MethodsThis study was initiated in January 2010 and finished in June 2013. In the first period, the arterial reconstruction was performed with an operating microscope and the classical technique of 9-0 separate sutures. In the second period, the arterial reconstruction was performed using a simpler technique, with surgical loupe and continuous 8-0 Prolene sutures. The incidences and outcomes of complications within the two periods were analyzed and compared. ResultsA total of 82 LDLTs were performed, 38 in the first period and 44 in the second period. There were no differences between the periods, except for the arterial ischemia time, which was lower in the second period. ConclusionHepatic artery anastomosis can be safely performed with low complication rates by a pediatric transplant surgeon using continuous sutures with a 3.5× magnifying loupe. This technique is simpler, less time consuming and simplifies the complex pediatric LDLT procedure.

Maternal grafts protect daughter recipients from acute cellular rejection after pediatric living donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia

Some studies have found that gender mismatch between donors and recipients are related to poor graft prognosis after liver transplantation. However, few studies have investigated the impact of gender mismatch on acute cellular rejection (ACR) in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This retrospective study investigated the clinical significance of these factors in ACR after pediatric LDLT. Between November 2001 and February 2012, 114 LDLTs were performed for recipients with biliary atresia (BA) using parental grafts. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the factors associated with ACR. The donor-recipient classifications included mother donor to daughter recipient (MD; n = 43), mother to son (n = 18), father to daughter (FD; n = 33), and father to son (n = 20) groups. The overall incidence rate of ACR in the recipients was 36.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that gender mismatch alone was an independent risk factor for ACR (P = 0.012). The FD group had a higher incidence of ACR than the MD group (P = 0.002). In LDLT, paternal grafts with gender mismatch were associated with a higher increased incidence of ACR than maternal grafts with gender match. Our findings support the possibility that maternal antigens may have an important clinical impact on graft tolerance in LDLT for patients with BA.

Impact of post-transplant flow cytometric panel-reactive antibodies on late-onset hepatic venous outflow obstruction following pediatric living donor liver transplantation

The development of late-onset hepatic venous outflow obstruction (LOHVOO) following pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) can lead to uncontrollable fibrotic damage in liver grafts, even long-term patency of the graft outflow is achieved with appropriate therapeutic modalities. The aim of this study was to verify our hypothesis that some immunological responses, particularly cellular and/or antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), are associated with LOHVOO, which occurs following damage to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in zone 3 of liver grafts. One hundred and eighty-nine patients underwent LDLT between May 2001 and December 2010 at our institute. Nine patients (4.8%) were identified as having LOHVOO. The preoperative factors, operative factors, and mortality, morbidity, and survival rates were examined and compared between the groups with and without LOHVOO. No statistical differences were observed between the groups with regard to preoperative factors, technical factors, or postoperative complications. However, FlowPRA reactivity was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for LOHVOO (P=0.006). The patients with both class I- and class II-reactive antibodies also had a significant risk of developing LOHVOO (P=0.03) and exhibited significantly higher retransplant rates. In conclusion, although further studies are needed to clarify this phenomenon, the pathophysiological mechanism underlying the development of LOHVOO after LDLT may be explained by immune-mediated responses that facilitate damage in zone 3 of liver grafts.

Risk factors for de novo hepatitis B infection in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

To investigate the incidence of de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and to analyze the risk factors associated with this de novo HBV infection. The clinical and laboratory data of children who underwent LDLT from June 2010 to September 2012 in First Center Hospital in Tianjin, China, were retrospectively included in the study. Intrahepatic HBV DNA in donors and recipients was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Between June 2010 to September 2012, 32 consecutive pediatric patients underwent LDLT in our institute. Thirty LDLT patients (13 girls and 17 boys) were followed up for a median of 15 mo, of whom 53.3% (16/30) were hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) positive and 36.7% (11/30) were hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb)/HBcAb positive before transplantation. Sixteen of the children received HBcAb-positive allografts, and 43.7% (7/16) of the grafts were found to be intrahepatic HBV DNA positive. De novo HBV infection developed in 16.1% (5/30) of the children within a median of 11 mo after transplantation. All five of the HBV-infected children had received HBcAb-positive allografts, four of which were intrahepatic HBV DNA positive. Two of the children developed de novo HBV infection despite the preoperative presence of both HBsAb and HBcAb In pediatric recipients, positive intrahepatic HBV DNA in allografts could be a risk factor for de novo HBV infection from HBcAb-positive allografts. HBsAb/HBcAb positivity in pediatric LDLT patients before transplantation exhibited only weak effectiveness in protecting them against de novo HBV infection from HBcAb-positive allografts.

Reconstructing single hepatic artery with two arterial stumps: biliary complications in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

Liver grafts can at times have two hepatic arterial stumps. This can result in a dilemma whether to reconstruct single or both the arteries. Hepatic artery (HA) thrombosis is the most dreaded complication in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) as it can result in biliary complications and subsequent graft loss. We herein report the feasibility of reconstructing single hepatic artery in pediatric living donor liver transplantation having two arterial stumps in the liver graft. From 2008 to 2010, 87 pediatric patients undergoing LDLT were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 20): two HA stumps with two HA reconstruction, Group 2 (n = 22): two HA stumps with one HA reconstruction and Group 3 (n = 45): one HA stump with one HA reconstruction. The decision regarding the reconstruction of single or multiple HAs was made depending on the pre-operative radiological and intraoperative assessments. The incidence of HA thrombosis (p = 0.126) and biliary complications (p = 0.617), was similar in the three groups. Single HA reconstruction does not increase the risk of biliary strictures in pediatric LDLT recipients having dual hepatic arterial stumps in the liver graft.

Risk factors and treatments for hepatic arterial complications in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

Hepatic artery complications (HAC) are a serious complication in pediatric liver transplant recipients because its incidence is high and it can occasionally lead to graft liver failure. We herein present a retrospective analysis of our 10-year experience with pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) focusing on the risk factors and treatments for HAC. Between May 2001 and November 2011, 209 LDLTs were performed for 203 pediatric recipients. We performed the multivariate analyses to identify the factors associated with HAC and showed the therapeutic strategy and outcome for HAC. The overall incidence of HAC was 7.2%, and the graft survival of recipients with HAC was 73.3%. The multivariate analysis showed that the pediatric end-stage liver disease score (≥20), post-transplant laparotomy except for HAC treatment and extra-anatomical hepatic artery reconstruction were independent risk factors for HAC (P = 0.020, P = 0.015 and P = 0.002, respectively). Eleven surgical interventions and 13 endovascular interventions were performed for 15 recipients with HAC. The serum aspartate aminotransferase levels pre- and post-treatment for HAC were significantly higher in the surgical group than in the endovascular group (P = 0.016 and P = 0.022, respectively). It is important for recipients with risk factors to maintain strict post-transplant management to help prevent HAC and detect it in earlier stages. Endovascular intervention can be a less invasive method for treating HAC than surgical intervention, and can be performed as an early treatment.

3D printing of the liver in living donor liver transplantation

Advances in 3D printing techniques are gathering pace. With regard to living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), 3D printing could enable accurate assessment of liver volume and accurate visualization of liver anatomy, and could be particularly helpful for paediatric LDLT.

Immunogenicity of inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine in adult and pediatric liver transplant recipients over two seasons

Immunological responses to influenza vaccination administered to liver transplantation recipients are not fully elucidated. To compare inactivated influenza vaccine's immunogenicity between adult and pediatric recipients, 16 adult and 15 pediatric living donor liver transplantation recipients in the 2010-11 influenza season, and 53 adult and 21 pediatric recipients in the 2011-12 season, were investigated. Seroprotection rates (hemagglutinin-inhibition [HI] antibody titer 1:40) were 50-94% to all three antigens among adults and 27-80% among children in both seasons. Seroconversion rates (fourfold or more HI antibody rise) were 32-56% among adults and 13-67% among children in both seasons. No significant differences were observed between the two groups. In addition, 20/53 adult and 13/21 pediatric recipients received a vaccine containing identical antigens in both of these seasons. Geometric mean titer fold increases of all three antigens in adult recipients were significantly lower than those in recipients who had not received a preceding vaccination. In contrast, in pediatric recipients, there were no significant differences between the groups who had and had not received preceding vaccinations. The number of patients with rejection did not differ significantly between the two groups (0/53 vs. 1/21) in the 2011-12 season. The incidence of influenza after vaccination was significantly different between adult and pediatric recipients (0/16 vs. 5/15 in 2010-11 and 0/53 vs. 3/21 in 2011-12, respectively). Overall, there were no significant differences in antibody responses between adult and pediatric groups. Influenza infection was more frequent in pediatric recipients. Long-term response to preceding vaccinations appeared to be insufficient in both groups.

Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging for assessing graft fibrosis after pediatric living donor liver transplantation: A pilot study

Graft fibrosis is a common finding during protocol biopsy examinations after pediatric liver transplantation. We evaluated the clinical utility of liver stiffness measurements by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging, a novel ultrasound-based elastography method, for assessing graft fibrosis after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We performed 73 liver stiffness measurements by ARFI imaging in 65 pediatric LDLT recipients through the upper midline of the abdomen (midline value) and the right intercostal space (intercostal value) around the time of protocol biopsy examinations. Fifty-nine of these liver stiffness measurements could be compared with histopathological findings. Graft fibrosis was assessed according to the degrees of portal and pericellular fibrosis. Significant fibrosis, which was defined as F2 or worse portal fibrosis and/or moderate or worse pericellular fibrosis, was observed in 14 examinations, which had significantly higher midline (P = 0.005) and intercostal values (P < 0.001) than the others. Liver stiffness measurements by ARFI imaging significantly increased with increases in the portal and pericellular fibrosis grades. For the diagnosis of significant fibrosis, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCs) were 0.760 (P = 0.005) and 0.849 (P < 0.001) for the midline and intercostal values, respectively. The optimal cutoff values were 1.30 and 1.39 m/second for midline and intercostal values, respectively. Slight but significant elevations were noted in the results of biochemical liver tests: serum levels of γ-glutamyltransferase showed the highest AUROC (0.809, P = 0.001) with an optimal cutoff value of 20 IU/L. In conclusion, liver stiffness measurements by ARFI imaging had good accuracy for diagnosing graft fibrosis after pediatric LDLT. The pericellular pattern of fibrosis was frequently observed after pediatric LDLT, and moderate pericellular fibrosis was detectable by ARFI imaging.

Long-term Outcome of Percutaneous Interventions for Hepatic Venous Outflow Obstruction after Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Experience from a Single Institute

PurposeTo evaluate retrospectively the long-term outcome of percutaneous interventions for hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) occurring after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Materials and MethodsBetween October 1997 and December 2012, 48 patients (24 boys, 24 girls; median age, 6 y) who had undergone LDLT were confirmed to have HVOO using percutaneous hepatic venography and manometry. All patients underwent percutaneous interventions, including balloon angioplasty with or without stent placement. Technical success, clinical success, patency rates, stent placement, and major complications were evaluated. ResultsTechnical success was achieved in 92 of 93 sessions (99.0%) and in 47 of 48 patients (97.9%), and clinical success was achieved in 41 of 48 patients (85.4%). During the follow-up period (range, 1–182 mo; median, 51.5 mo), 28 patients were treated with a single session of balloon angioplasty, and 20 patients who developed recurrent stenosis were treated with repeated percutaneous interventions. The rates of primary and primary-assisted patency at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after balloon angioplasty were 64%, 57%, 57%, and 52% (primary patency) and 98%, 95%, 95%, and 95% (primary-assisted patency). Of six patients with stent placement, four had no recurrent HVOO after the stent placement, but two developed recurrent stenosis. The stent migrated to the right atrium in one patient. ConclusionsPercutaneous interventions were effective treatments for HVOO after LDLT.

De novo hepatitis B virus infection from anti‐HBc‐positive donors in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors of de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive donors in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We retrospectively analyzed 46 recipients without pre-liver transplantation (LT) HBV infection evidence who underwent LDLT from October 2006 to May 2011 in our center. HBV markers, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs), anti-HBc, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti-HBe) were determined in both donors and recipients before LT and in recipients after LT. HBV DNA titer was measured if the recipients were strongly suspected of de novo HBV infection. Without prophylaxis, de novo HBV infection occurred in 11 of 46 recipients (23.9%) 6-36 months after LT. All 11 patients received grafts from anti-HBc-positive donors. The donors' baseline status and the characteristics of recipients at the time of transplantation were not associated with the acquisition of de novo hepatitis B infection. The overall 2-year survival rate of patients from anti-HBc-positive donors was 84.2%. Two de novo HBV-infected patients who had YMDD mutation were given adefovir combined with lamivudine, and their liver function gradually improved during the follow-up period. Anti-HBc-positive donors can significantly increase the incidence of de novo HBV infection in HBsAg-negative recipients. Administration with adefovir in patients who are resistant to lamivudine seems to be an effective and safe way for de novo HBV infection.

Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Japan: An Analysis of More Than 2200 Cases Listed in the Registry of the Japanese Liver Transplantation Society

The Japanese Liver Transplantation Society (JLTS) was established in 1980 in order to characterize and follow trends in patient characteristics and graft survival among all liver transplant patients in Japan. This study analyzed the comprehensive factors that may influence the outcomes of pediatric patients who undergo living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) by evaluating the largest cohort in the world. Between November 1989 and December 2010, 2224 pediatric patients underwent LDLT in Japan. There were 998 male (44.9%) and 1226 female donors (55.1%) without donor mortalities related to transplant surgery. There were 946 male (42.5%) and 1278 female (57.5%) recipients with a median age of 4.0 years (range: 13 days to 17.9 years). Cholestatic liver disease was the leading indication for LDLT (n = 1649; 76.2%), followed by metabolic disorders (n = 194; 8.7%), acute liver failure (n = 192; 8.6%) and neoplastic liver disease (n = 66; 3.0%). The 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-year patient survival rates were 88.3%, 85.4%, 82.8% and 79.6%, respectively. Blood-type incompatibility, recipient age, etiology of liver disease and transplant era were found to be significant predictors of overall survival. We are able to achieve satisfactory long-term pediatric patient survival outcomes in the JLTS series without compromising the living donors.

Interventional treatment of lumen-reconstruction-related complications after pediatric living-donor liver transplantation

Interventional radiology has recently been reported as an effective means of treating complications after liver transplantation. In children, however, the number of such reports is relatively small. In addition, there is ongoing discussion regarding the best interventional devices and methods for specific complications. The aim of this study was to determine the value of interventional treatment for vessel and bile duct complications after pediatric living-donor liver transplantation. Six cases with lumen-reconstruction-related complications after liver transplantation received intervention. Three cases had hepatic artery thrombosis, one had portal vein stenosis, and two had bilioenteric anastomotic stenosis. Catheter-directed thrombolysis was used to treat cases with hepatic artery thrombosis; balloon dilation and stent placement were used for portal vein stenosis; balloon dilation and drainage were used for bilioenteric anastomotic stenosis. All interventions were performed successfully, and treatment efficacy was 100%. Except for one death from multiple organ failure, all other cases survived through follow-up, which lasted up to 18months. No case had intervention-related complication. Interventional treatment is safe and effective, and can be the first choice for the treatment of complications associated with pediatric living-donor liver transplantation.

Outcome of routine use of microsurgical biliary reconstruction in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

Microsurgical techniques, initially used for hepatic artery reconstruction, have been extended to biliary reconstruction to decrease biliary complications. The routine use of microsurgical biliary reconstruction in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has not been elucidated. Sixty-seven pediatric patients underwent primary LDLT. All biliary reconstructions were performed by a single microsurgeon using microsurgical techniques. A biliary stent was not used. The minimum follow-up was 12 months. Thirty-four patients had a minimum follow-up of 36 months. The outcomes of those who underwent microsurgical biliary reconstruction were compared with the outcomes of a cohort of 67 patients who underwent conventional biliary reconstruction. The demographical and clinical profiles of the two groups were not significantly different. There were 5 anastomotic complications in the conventional and 2 anastomotic complications in the microsurgical reconstruction groups. All complications developed within 90 days after transplant. There were no late biliary complications. Further analysis showed that conventional reconstruction increased the risk of biliary complications by 2.4 times (relative risk: 2.42; attributable risk: 4.5). The routine use of microsurgical biliary reconstruction in pediatric LDLT is a technical innovation that led to decreased anastomotic biliary complications.

Living-Donor Liver Transplantation With Hyperreduced Left Lateral Segment Grafts

In the setting of liver transplantation in small infants who receive left lateral segment (LLS) grafts, problems are encountered related to graft-size mismatching in the form of so-called "large-for-size" grafts. To address these problems, the feasibility of further reducing the size of LLS grafts to form hyperreduced LLS (HRLLS) grafts was investigated. Of the 175 pediatric living-donor liver transplantations performed between November 2005 and December 2011 at our institute, 31 cases were performed using HRLLS grafts. The medical records were reviewed and data were collected retrospectively. The graft-to-recipient body weight ratio was successfully reduced from 5.2% ± 2.0% to 2.9% ± 0.5%. Portal vein thrombosis was observed in one case, and biliary stenosis was seen in two cases. No hepatic artery thrombosis was encountered. The graft and patient 2-year survival rate was 87%. When the results categorized according to the original disease were verified, patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) weighed less and had smaller abdominal cavities compared with patients with cholestatic or metabolic disease. Patients with FHF frequently required skin or partial skin closure to avoid graft compression. For this reason, the anteroposterior diameters in the recipients' abdominal cavities were not adequately large to accommodate the graft thickness, especially in patients with FHF. In conclusion, living-donor liver transplantation using HRLLS grafts offers a safe and useful option for treating smaller infants.

Regulatory T cells in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

Regulatory T cells in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

Anomalous hepatic vein anatomy of left lateral section grafts and customized unification venoplasty for pediatric living donor liver transplantation

In liver transplantation, a left lateral section (LLS) graft may have an unusual variant left hepatic vein (LHV) anatomy. This study was designed to analyze the incidence of unusual LHV variants and to determine technical methods for effective reconstruction in infant recipients weighing approximately 10 kg or less. The study comprised 3 parts: an LHV variation analysis, a simulation-based design for the technical modification of graft LHV venoplasty, and its clinical application. The LHV anatomy of 300 potential LLS graft donors was classified into 4 types according to the number and location of the hepatic vein openings: (1) a single opening (n = 218 or 72.7%); (2) 2 large adjacent openings (n = 29 or 9.7%); (3) 2 adjacent openings, 1 large and 1 small (n = 34 or 11.3%); and (4) 2 widely spaced openings (n = 19 or 6.3%). Types 2 and 3 required wedged unification venoplasty, and type 4 required additional vein interposition. In a series of 49 cases using LLS grafts, the graft hepatic vein complication rate was 4.5% at 3 years; stenting was necessary for 1 of the 36 type 1 LHV grafts (2.8%) and for 1 of the 13 type 2-4 LHV grafts (7.7%, P = 0.46). A customized interposition-wedged unification venoplasty technique for coping with type 4 vein variations was developed with a simulation-based approach, and it was successfully applied to a 10-month-old male infant receiving an LLS graft with a type 4 LHV. In conclusion, nearly all LHV variations can be effectively managed with customized unification venoplasty. These venoplasty techniques represent beneficial surgical options as part of graft standardization for hepatic vein reconstruction in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

Predicting Operational Tolerance in Pediatric Living-Donor Liver Transplantation by Absence of HLA Antibodies

The role of anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies in operational tolerance (OT) after pediatric living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remains inconclusive. We investigated whether the presence of HLA antibodies impeded the development of OT. We retrospectively examined the prevalence of anti-HLA antibodies in pediatric LDLT recipients before transplantation and at 3 weeks after transplantation and analyzed the significance of those antibodies in relation to later OT. Forty pediatric LDLTs were performed between April 1996 and December 2000 and followed up through July 2011, with sera available for measurement of HLA antibodies. Seventeen patients achieved OT (mean follow-up, 4571.9±544.7 days) and 23 patients did not achieve OT (mean follow-up, 4532.0±425.4 days). Protocol liver biopsy was done for 14 OT patients and 16 non-OT patients. Their sera were tested for anti-HLA class I and II antibodies using the LABScreen single antigen beads test, in which a 1000 mean fluorescence value was considered positive. The prevalence of antibodies after transplantation in non-OT patients was higher than in OT patients (95.2% vs. 73.3%; P<0.001). The highest mean fluorescence intensity of antibodies was significantly higher in non-OT patients than in OT patients. The prevalence of HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DR antibodies was significantly higher in non-OT patients than in OT patients. The highest mean fluorescence intensity of HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DQ observed in non-OT patients was significantly higher than those in OT patients. In our study, posttransplantation HLA antibodies were associated with the future absence of OT. A prospective study with more patients is necessary to confirm the predictive value of HLA antibodies for OT.

A Comparison of Open Surgery and Endovascular Intervention for Hepatic Artery Complications After Pediatric Liver Transplantation

There are currently 2 major therapeutic options for the treatment of hepatic artery complications: endovascular intervention and open surgery. We herein report a retrospective analysis of 14 pediatric patients with hepatic artery complications after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) at our institution. We divided them into an open surgery group and an endovascular intervention group based on their primary treatment, and compared the results and outcomes. We then evaluated which procedure is more effective and less invasive. In the open surgery group, recurrent stenosis or spasm of the hepatic artery occurred in 3 of the 8 patients (37.5%). In the endovascular intervention group, 5 of the 6 patients were technically successfully treated by only endovascular treatment. Of the 5 successfully treated patients, 3 developed recurrent stenosis (60%). There were significant differences in the mean length of the operation for the first treatment of hepatic artery complications (open surgery, 428 minutes vs endovascular intervention, 160 minutes; P = .01) and in the mean value of the posttreatment aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (open surgery > endovascular intervention; P = .04/.05). Although endovascular intervention needs to be examined in further studies to reduce the rate of relapse, it is a less invasive method for the patient and graft than open surgery.