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Abstract: Background/Purpose: Although living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) is effective for patients with biliary atresia (BA) after a failed Kasai operation, the pretransplant factors affecting post-LRLT mortality and the optimal timing of the procedure remain unclear. Method: A retrospective review of 27 patients with BA after a failed Kasai operation (median age, 22 months; range, 6-237 months) who received LRLT from 1994 to 2005 was done. The clinical characteristics at the time of the pre-LRLT assessment of those who did and did not survive were compared. A simple regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis were done to correlate the clinical data. Results: Among the 27 patients, 4 patients died within 1 year post-LRLT. The significant factors affecting posttransplant death were hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), age at LRLT, and graft-to-recipient weight ratio. The arterial blood gas analysis of HPS patients showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the Sao 2 value on room air and the intrapulmonary shunt ratio. The receiver operating characteristic analysis of age at LRLT showed that the optimal cutoff point was 103 months of age. Conclusion: Older children with HPS or a lower graft-to-recipient weight ratio are not ideal candidates for LRLT. The correlation between the shunt ratio and Sao 2 suggests that HPS could be detected early using pulse oximetry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Living-related liver transplantation has become the treatment of choice for many liver diseases. We present our initial analysis of 53 cases of adult to adult living-related liver transplantation performed in a single institute in Italy. Materials and methods: From January 2002 to September 2006, we performed 53 adult to adult living-related liver transplantations. The donors (age 18–53) all had genetic or emotional relationships; they were all ABO identical or compatible. Recipients (ages 18–68) suffered from cirrhosis secondary to viral etiology (18), hepatocellular carcinoma with viral cirrhosis (24), cystic fibrosis (2), primary biliary cirrhosis (2), hepatocellular carcinoma with non-viral cirrhosis (2), alcoholic cirrhosis (1), ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC), (1) criptogenic cryptogenic cirrhosis, (1) primary sclerosing cholangitis, (1) biliary atresia and metastatic carcinoid (1). Donor liver resection resulted in 51 right hepatectomies and two left hepatectomies. Graft body weight ratio was always above 0.8%; graft implantation was performed with the piggy back technique and, in 43 cases, with the use of veno-venous bypass. Results: There was neither donor mortality nor need of blood transfusion. Actuarial recipient survival rate at 3 years was 82.66% and graft survival rate was 75.34%. Six patients underwent retransplantation: in four cases due to hepatic artery thrombosis, and in two, due to graft dysfunction. Three patients had one episode each of acute cellular rejection. Conclusion: Adult to adult living-related liver transplantation represents a resource to be used in confronting organ shortage, and is a valuable option for decreasing mortality and drop out from the waiting list. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background CT-assisted volumetry permits an estimation of the volume of the graft in liver transplantation, as well as monitoring the donor's liver regeneration. The aim of the study was to observe the restitution of liver tissue in donors after harvesting of the liver fragment for living-related liver transplantation (LRLT). Methods The size of the whole liver and of segments II, III and IV was assessed by preoperative CT volumetry in 29 living-related liver donors. Segments II and III were harvested in 22 patients, segments II, III and IV in 6 patients. The remnant liver was assessed by CT volumetry on the 7th and 30th postoperative days. Results The correlation between the calculated volume of the graft and its weight was linear ( r = 0.56, p < 0.04). Postoperative CT volumetry of the liver of living-related donors showed a different pattern of volume restoration (regeneration index) at both 7 and 30 days between donors who sacrificed segments II and III and those who sacrificed segments II, III and IV. The mean regeneration indexes were significantly higher in donors of segments II, III and IV as compared with donors of segments II and III (7 days, p < 0.02; 30 days, p < 0.05). Discussion It is possible that the donor's liver displays a different pattern of growth due to the alteration in blood supply to segment IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Optimal safety for a donor is an essential condition for living-related liver transplantation (LRLT). Severe pulmonary embolism may be a rare complication for the donors, but it is potentially fatal. Various risk factors and prophylactic methods for thromboembolic complications have been described. We report here a case of severe pulmonary embolism in a living-related liver transplantation donor who underwent right liver lobectomy, although the patient had no apparent risk factor for thromboembolism except for slight obesity (body mass index = 27). In addition, the donor received prophylactic use of graduated compression stockings and intermittent pneumatic compression by use of a special device from the start of anesthesia until the patient was able to ambulate. Fortunately, the patient was successfully treated with urokinase and heparin infusion followed by warfarin administration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]