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Liver retransplantation is the final option for graft failure after liver transplantation. The interval between the first and second liver transplantation will directly affect surgical indications, technical difficulties and treatment outcomes of adult liver retransplantation. Previous studies have shown that the overall survival of liver allografts and recipients after liver retransplantation is significantly lower than that after the first liver transplantation. However, with comprehensive progress in organ preservation methods, anesthesia management concepts, intensive care strategies, surgical techniques and new immunosuppressive drugs, clinical efficacy of adult liver retransplantation has been significantly improved. In this article, the changes of indications, timing of operation, long-term efficacy and its influencing factors, technical difficulties, selection of immunosuppressive regimens and the implementation of living donor liver retransplantation were reviewed, and the achievements, challenges and potential solutions of adult liver retransplantation were summarized, aiming to provide reference for enhancing clinical efficacy of adult liver retransplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To summarize clinical experience of transabdominal pericardial anastomosis of suprahepatic vena cava of the donor and right atrium of the recipient in liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) complicated with liver cancer. Methods Clinical data of a BCS patient complicated with liver cancer undergoing transabdominal pericardial anastomosis of suprahepatic vena cava and right atrium in liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Results The hepatic vein and suprahepatic vena cava were partially occluded in the patient. Liver transplantation was completed by transabdominal pericardial anastomosis of suprahepatic vena cava and right atrium with beating-heart. In addition, due to pathological changes of the recipient's hepatic artery, splenic artery of the recipient was cut off, distal ligation was performed, and the proximal end was reversed and anastomosed with the common hepatic artery of the donor liver, and the reconstruction of hepatic artery was completed. The surgery was successfully performed. At approximately postoperative 1 week, the function of the liver allograft was gradually restored to normal, and no major complications occurred. The patient was discharged at postoperative 25 d. No signs of BCS recurrence was reported after 8-month follow-up. Conclusions It is safe and feasible to treat BCS by liver transplantation with transabdominal pericardial anastomosis of suprahepatic vena cava and right atrium. BCS patients complicated with liver cancer obtain favorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To identify early Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) infection after liver transplantation and its impact on prognosis. Methods Clinical data of 171 liver transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into the non-infection (n=52) and infection groups (n=119) according to the bacterial culture results at postoperative 2 weeks. In the infection group, KP was not detected in 86 cases (non-KP infection group), and KP was cultured in 33 cases (KP infection group). Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were statistically compared between the non-infection and infection groups, and between the non-KP infection and KP infection groups. The risk factors of early KP infection after liver transplantation and the influencing factors of long-term survival of the recipients were analyzed.Results Compared with the non-infection group, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and total bilirubin level were higher, the operation time was longer, the length of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay and the length of hospital stay were longer, the amount of intraoperative red blood cell transfusion was higher, the hospitalization expense was higher, the incidence of severe complications was higher, white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil cell count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at postoperative 14 and 30 d were higher, absolute lymphocyte count at postoperative 14 d was lower and hemoglobin level at postoperative 30 d was lower in the infection group. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Compared with the non-KP infection group, MELD score, total bilirubin level and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level were higher, the operation time and the length of postoperative ICU stay were longer, the hospitalization expense was higher, the 90-d fatality was higher, the albumin level at postoperative 14 d was lower, and total bilirubin level at postoperative 30 d was higher in the KP infection group. The differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Among 33 recipients with KP infection, 16 cases were resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, and 7 of them died within postoperative 90 d. Seventeen cases were intermediate or sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics, and 4 of them died within postoperative 90 d. Preoperative MELD score ≥17 and operation time≥415 min were the independent risk factors for KP infection after liver transplantation (both P<0.05). The length of postoperative ICU stay ≥44 h and KP infection were the independent risk factors for long-term prognosis of liver transplantation (both P<0.05). Conclusions KP infection is an independent risk factor for death after liver transplantation. High preoperative MELD score and long operation time are the independent risk factors for early KP infection after liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To summarize the experience of complex hepatic artery reconstruction in orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 7 liver transplantation recipients who underwent complex hepatic artery reconstruction from January 2015 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 4 recipients received classical liver transplantation and 3 cases underwent piggyback liver transplantation. Intraoperative general conditions including anhepatic phase, intraoperative blood loss, hepatic artery anastomosis time and operation time of the recipients were recorded. The clinical prognosis and complications were observed. Results In two donors, variant right hepatic artery was used for vascular reconstruction. The celiac trunk or the common hepatic artery of the donors was anastomosed with the common hepatic artery of the recipients. Iliac artery bypass was employed in 2 cases, and then the hepatic artery of the donors was anastomosed with the abdominal aorta of the recipients. The superior mesenteric artery of 1 donor was end-to-end anastomosed with the common hepatic artery of the recipient. The celiac trunk of 1 donor was anastomosed with the splenic artery of the recipient. Only 1 case was required to undergo secondary liver transplantation due to acute hepatic artery thrombosis after hepatic artery anastomosis. All the 6 recipients successfully completed the liver transplantation. No perioperative death was observed. The anhepatic phase endured from 49 to 77 min. The intraoperative blood loss was ranged from 300 to 1 500 mL. The anastomosis time of hepatic artery was 23-56 min. The operation time was ranged from 5.3 to 11.1 h. The length of postoperative hospital stay was 23-56 d. Neither hepatic artery thrombosis nor stenosis occurred. The liver function of all recipients was basically restored to normal within postoperative 2 weeks. No severe surgical complications occurred. The liver graft achieved excellent function. Conclusions Appropriate identification of the hepatic artery variation, proper management of liver artery of the donors and recipients and reconstructing the blood supply of liver graft are the crucial procedures of liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the effect of different techniques of hepatic artery reconstruction on postoperative hepatic artery complications and clinical prognosis in liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 140 liver transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. All recipients were divided into the conventional hepatic artery reconstruction group (n=123) and special hepatic artery reconstruction group (n=17) according to hepatic artery reconstruction methods. Intraoperative and postoperative clinical indexes, the incidence of postoperative hepatic artery complications and survival rate were compared between two groups. Results The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels at postoperative 1 d, total bilirubin (TB) at postoperative 7 d and prothrombin time international normalized ratio (PTINR) at postoperative 30 d in special hepatic artery reconstruction group were higher than those in conventional hepatic artery reconstruction group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the operation time, anhepatic phase, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion volume of red blood cells, cold or warm ischemia time, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, the length of hospital stay and postoperative blood flow of liver allograft between two groups (all P>0.05). In the conventional hepatic artery reconstruction group, 5 recipients developed hepatic artery complications, whereas no hepatic artery complications occurred in the special hepatic artery reconstruction group, with no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). In the special hepatic artery reconstruction group, the 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates were equally 82.4%, compared with 85.0%, 78.9% and 75.6% in the conventional hepatic artery reconstruction group, respectively. There was no significant difference between two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions When hepatic artery variations and (or) lesions are detected in donors and recipients, use of special hepatic artery reconstruction may effectively restore the hepatic arterial blood flow of liver allograft after liver transplantation, and will not affect the incidence of hepatic artery complications and survival rate of the recipients following liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the risk factors of multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) infection after liver transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 77 recipients undergoing liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. According to the incidence of MDRO infection, all recipients were divided into the non-MDRO infection group (n=51) and MDRO infection group (n=26). The infection rate and strain distribution of MDRO in liver transplant recipients were summarized. The risk factors of MDRO infection in liver transplant recipients were identified. Clinical prognosis of all recipients was statistically compared between two groups. Results The infection rate of MDRO after liver transplantation was 34% (26/77), mainly carbapenem-resistant MDRO infection. The main sites of infection included lung, abdominal cavity and incision. Univariate analysis showed that postoperative tracheal intubation ≥48 h, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay ≥72 h, length of hospital stay ≥30 d, re-operation, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and tacrolimus (Tac) blood concentration ≥15 ng/mL were the risk factors for MDRO infection after liver transplantation. Cox regression analysis indicated that postoperative tracheal intubation≥48 h, re-operation, CRRT and Tac blood concentration ≥15 ng/mL were the independent risk factors for MDRO infection after liver transplantation. The fatality in the MDRO infection group was significantly higher than that in the non-MDRO infection group [31%(8/26) vs. 10%(5/51), P=0.01]. Conclusions Postoperative tracheal intubation ≥48 h, re-operation, CRRT and Tac blood concentration ≥15 ng/mL may increase the risk of MDRO infection after liver transplantation and affect clinical prognosis of the recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]