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Background: When a partial liver graft is transplanted into a recipient with portal hypertension, it is subject to sinusoidal shear stress, which, in good measure, is essential for regeneration. However, portal hyperperfusion which exceeds the capacity of the graft results in the small-for-size syndrome manifested by ascites, cholestasis and coagulopathy. This review discusses intraoperative hemodynamic variables that have been described in the literature, and inflow modulation strategies and their outcomes. Apart from using donor grafts which are of adequate size for the recipient weight, portal hemodynamics are an important consideration to prevent early allograft dysfunction, graft failure and mortality. Summary: Understanding normal portal hemodynamics, how they change with the progression of cirrhosis, portal hypertension and changes after the implantation of a partial liver graft is key to managing patients with living-donor liver transplantation. If the intraoperative measurement of portal flow or pressure suggests graft portal hyperperfusion, inflow modulation strategies can be adopted. Splenic artery ligation, splenectomy and hemiportocaval shunts are well described in the literature. The proper selection of a donor to match the recipient’s anatomic, metabolic and hemodynamic environment and deciding which modulation strategy to use in which patient is an exercise in sound clinical judgement. Key message: The intraoperative assessment of portal hemodynamics in living-donor liver transplant should be standard practice. Inflow modulation in properly selected patients offers a point-of-care solution to alter portal inflow to the graft with a view to improve recipient outcomes. In patients with small (anatomically/metabolically) grafts, using inflow modulation can result in outcomes equivalent to those in patients in whom larger grafts are used.

It has been reported that the prevention of acute portal overpressure in small-for-size liver grafts leads to better postoperative outcomes. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of the technique of splenic artery ligation in a case series of thirteen patients subjected to major liver resections with evidence of small-for-size syndrome and whether the maneuver results in the reduction of portal venous pressure and flow. The technique was successful in ten patients, with splenic artery ligation alleviating portal hypertension significantly. Three patients required the performance of a portocaval shunt for the attenuation of portal hypertension. Portal inflow modulation via splenic artery ligation is a technically simple technique that can prove useful in the context of major hepatectomies as well as in liver transplantations and the early evaluation and modification of portal venous pressure post hepatectomy can be used as a practical tool to guide the effect of the intervention.