Hepatic artery reconstruction in adult-to-adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize our experience in hepatic artery reconstruction in adult-to-adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).Methods A retrospective analysis was made for 17 cases undergoing LDLT in our center from May 2007 to Oct 2008.Results All the 17 right lobe graft of the liver was supplied by single right hepatic artery and the mean diameter of right hepatic artery was 3.1 mm.The hepatic artery for segment 4 was mainly originated from left hepatic artery(12/17,70.1%).The recipient right or left hepatic artery was used in 14 cases of reconstruction,proper hepatic artery was used in 2 cases,and gastroduodenal artery was used in one case.Anastomosis was performed with interrupted 8-0 prolene and 12-16 stitches were made on the posterior wall first and then the anterior wall to avoid turning over the vessel.The mean anastomosis time was(51±26) minutes and all hepatic arteries were patent immediately after anastomosis.Hepatic arterial complications including hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT)did not occur after LDLT.Conclusions Detailed evaluation and careful protection of the hepatic artery of segment 4 are the key to successful reconstruction of hepatic artery in LDLT.Anastomosis was performed without flipping the artery wall helped to reduce the difficulty of operation remarkably and with a good result.