Liver transplantation in an adult patient with situs inversus / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo study the feasibility and technique in liver transplantation (LT) in an adult with situs inversus (SI) and reviewed the medical literature on this subject.MethodsA 45-year-old male with complete SI,suffered from progressive hepatic failure secondary to hepatolithiasis,obstructive jaundice,portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis.He underwent liver transplantation in July 2004.His anatomy was studied by preoperative CT scan and three-dimensional liver reconstruction imaging and angiography.LT was performed using the modified piggyback technique.The donor right liver was rotated 45 degree to the left,making the donor left liver pointing to the left paracolic sulcus and the donor right liver was in the recipient hepatic fossa.The donor suprahepatic vena cava was anastomosed end-to-side to the recipient vena cava,and the infrahepatic vena cava was closed by oversewing.ResultThe patient recovered uneventfully.His liver function was stable during a follow-up of 75 months.ConclusionLT in patients with SI is safe and feasible.Exact determination of the anatomy,comprehensive preoperative planning,and good technique in liver transplantation play important roles in LT for patients with SI.