Microsurgical reconstruction of hepatic artery with anatomical variation in liver transplantation / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective This study is to summarize the experience of microsurgical reconstruction for donor liver anatomical variations of hepatic arteries in orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods During the bench surgery, the anatomy of donors′ hepatic arteries was carefully examined and microsurgical techniques were used for the anomalous arteries. The graft arterial flow was checked by Doppler ultrasound daily in the first week in postoperative period and periodically thereafter. Results The arterial anatomy was anomalousin 20 out of 141 (14%) donor livers. Nine cases (6.3%) needed arterial reconstruction. In these cases, 7(4.9%) aberrant right hepatic arteries originating from superior mesenteric artery were anastomosed to gastro-duodenal arteries and another two aberrant hepatic left or right arteries were anastomosed to the stump of the donor splenic arteries. Conclusions The variations of hepatic arteries in donors are common. To obtain the ideal arterial supply of liver graft, both careful checking on the origin of donor's artery and appropriate plastic performance with refined microsurgical techniques are necessary.