Surgical procedures for decompression of excessive shear stress in small-for-size living donor liver transplantation--new hepatic vein reconstruction

We have reported that acute elevation of portal pressure, reflecting wall shear stress of sinusoidal endothelial cells, triggers liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy and that excessive portal hypertension induces liver failure. For prevention of excessive shear stress in small-for-size living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), we developed a new hepatic vein reconstruction to expand the anastomotic site. Fourteen adult patients, who underwent LDLT, were divided into two groups: previous end-to-end hepatic vein reconstruction in nine patients (group P) and the new method in five patients (group N). The outside middle and left hepatic veins of the graft were incised and enlarged to 40 mm. The vena cava was cut 40 mm longitudinally. The graft was positioned a quarter turn counterclockwise with the hepatic vein of the graft anastomosed end-to-side to the vena cava longitudinally. Postoperative portal pressures and serum total bilirubin levels of these two groups showed portal pressure in group N to rapidly decrease below 25 cm H2O following LDLT. No cases showed posttransplanted hyperbilirubinemia above 10 mg/dL in group N; however, all cases were small-for-size grafts. Moreover, serum total bilirubin levels in group N were significantly lower than those in group P. This procedure is simple despite not using a venous patch. If the hepatic vein is narrow or obstructed, such as in Budd-Chiari syndrome, the procedure is applicable. Even in small-for-size grafts, excessive tension did not occurred at the portal vein or hepatic artery anastomoses. Moreover, it is possible to avoid outflow block and posttransplanted hyperbilirubinemia.     

活体肝移植的几点关键外科技术

目的：探讨活体肝移植的几点关键外科技术。方法：2001年1月至2002年3月底,实施活体肝移植11例,其中左半肝8例,左外叶1例,成人右半肝2例;根据术前CT、血管造影和术中B超确定肝切除线,超声电刀离断肝实质,经门静脉灌注原位获取。受体手术采用保留腔静脉的全肝切除。移植肝原位植入,肝静脉重建采用扩大成型吻合技术,显微技术吻合肝动脉,胆道重建采用端端吻合,置“T“管引流。结果：11例供体术后顺利康复出院,未发生严重并发症。11例受体中,1例发生肝动脉血栓形成需再次肝移植,1例因不可逆转的严重排斥反应,于术后72d死亡。10例受体康复出院,肝功能、铜氧化酶恢复正常。结论：活体肝移植对供体是相对安全的。管道重建技术是活体肝移植的重要环节。术前、术中了解供体的解剖变异并正确处理,可降低并发症发生率。     

Replacement of the vena cava with aortic graft for living donor liver transplantation in budd-Chiari syndrome associated with hydatid cyst surgery: a case report

A 12-year-old girl, operated because of a hydatid cyst of the liver, with Budd-Chiari syndrome was evaluated for postoperative development of ascites and paraumbilical varicose veins. A vena caval stent was placed for the relief of inferior vena caval obstruction. The patient was admitted because of progressive deterioration in ascites and liver functions. Imaging techniques showed degeneration adjacent to the right hepatic vein in liver segments 7 to 8, a partially calcified 5-cm hydatid cyst, and a thrombosis in the inferior vena cava was that addressed with a 10-cm metal stent. A living donor segments 2 to 3 liver transplantation was obtained from the patient's mother. After completion of the donor operation without complications, the vena caval stent was removed following the recipient hepatectomy. Suprarenal flow continued after resection of the fibrotic vena cava and placement of a cadaveric cryopreserved aortic graft for the vena cava, anastomosed between the suprarenal and subdiaphragmatic segments of the vena cava. An end-to-side anastomosis was performed between the left hepatic vein of the donor liver and the aortic graft. There was no complication and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 19. Follow-up Doppler ultrasonography showed the aortic vena caval graft to be open, along with the hepatic/portal vein and hepatic artery. This case demonstrated that operations for liver hydatid cyst surgeries can iatrogenically induce Budd-Chiari syndrome; a cryopreserved aortic graft can be an alternative to ensure the continuity of the vena cava in living donor liver transplantation.     

Anatomy of the liver

The liver is the largest organ in the body. Its gross anatomical divisions comprise the right, left, caudate and quadrate lobes, which do not correspond with its functional division into eight hepatic segments, each with their own blood supply and biliary drainage. The porta hepatis transmits the hepatic artery, portal vein and right and left hepatic ducts (the portal triad), together with lymphatic and autonomic nerves. The venous drainage of the liver, directly into the inferior vena cava, comprises the right, left and middle hepatic veins, together with the small accessory hepatic veins.     

肝静脉和下腔静脉血流控制在高难度肝肿瘤切除中的应用

目的评估肝静脉主干和(或)下腔静脉血流控制在高难度肝切除术中的作用和意义。方法对33例位于Ⅳ、Ⅶ、Ⅷ段和左半肝、右半肝、右三叶的肝肿瘤进行了游离下腔静脉和肝静脉主干并加以控制的肝切除术。其中肝细胞性肝癌26例;胆管细胞性肝癌2例;转移性肝癌2例;肝血管瘤3例。32例患者在术中成功预置了下腔静脉和肝静脉的阻断带,必要时控制肝静脉和下腔静脉血流。1例患者预置肝静脉阻断带失败。结果33例全部成功切除肿瘤,术中输血0-1600ml,其中7例没有输血。全组无术中死亡病例。结论熟练掌握和合理控制肝静脉主干和下腔静脉血流,可以提高复杂肝肿瘤切除的安全性和减少输血,有助于完成高难度肝肿瘤的切除。     

前入路绕肝悬吊解剖性肝右三叶切除术治疗巨大肝癌

前入路肝切除术是指先离断肝实质后游离肝脏的肝切除方法;绕肝悬吊是指在肝后下腔静脉前方放置悬吊带,供在切肝过程中提起肝脏.2011年10月中山大学孙逸仙纪念医院采用前入路、绕肝悬吊、解剖性肝右三叶切除术治疗1例54岁男性肝癌患者.肿瘤位于肝左内叶和右半肝,长径约16 cn.术前肿瘤分期为ⅢA期,T3N0M0;术前评估ICG R15为5.4％,肝左外叶肝脏体积占标准肝脏体积的44％;左肝管受压、轻度扩张.术中首先分离、切断入肝血流,包括肝右动脉、门静脉右支、肝中动脉、门静脉左内叶分支;然后在镰状韧带的右侧离断肝实质,期间在肝后下腔静脉前打隧道并悬吊肝脏;切断右肝管;接着分离、切断肝中静脉和肝右静脉;游离肝周韧带,移出肝右二叶;最后行左肝管、肝总管端端吻合.手术时间为4h,术中出血量为350 mL.患者术后康复顺利,术后4个月复查MRCP示胆管吻合口通畅,肝内未见肿瘤复发.     

Could the use of interposition grafts for arterial reconstruction be avoided by more caudate graft placement in living donor liver transplantation?

One of the major challenges in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is short and small vessels (particularly the hepatic artery), particularly in segmental liver grafts from living donors. In the present study we report an alternative surgical technique that avoids interpositional vessel grafts or tension on the connection by anastomizing the allograft hepatic vein to the recipient inferior vena cava in a more caudate location. From March 2000 to January 2003, 28 patients (11 women/17 men) underwent 28 LDLT. Until June 2001, the preferred technique for hepatic vein anastomosis was end-to-end anastomosis between the allograft hepatic vein and the recipient hepatic vein (HV-HV) (n = 10). Thereafter an end-to-side anastomosis was performed between allograft hepatic vein and recipient inferior vena cava (HV-IVC) (n = 18). The level of venotomy on the recipient vena cava was decided according to the pre-anastomotic placement of the allograft in the recipient hepatectomy site with sufficient width to have an hepatic artery anastomosis without tension or need for an interposition graft during hepatic artery and portal vein anastomoses. Except the right lobe allograft with anterior and posterior portal branches, all portal and hepatic artery anastomoses were constructed without an interposition graft or tension in the HV-IVC group. Only one hepatic artery thrombosis developed in the HV-IVC group. As a result, this technique may avoid both hepatic artery thrombosis and the use of interposition grafts in living donor liver transplantation.     

Right hepatic lobectomy and removal of inferior vena caval tumor embolus in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, using veno-venous bypass while preserving perfusion in the remnant liver: A case report

We describe a successful hepatectomy and the removal of a tumor embolus in a 43-year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma occupying the right lobe extending to the right branch of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava (IVC). Intraoperative echography revealed the tumor embolus in the IVC to originate from the main tumor via the right inferior hepatic vein, which extended cephalad from the confluence of the right hepatic vein to the IVC. Right hepatc lobectomy was performed via the anterior approach. Using femoro-axillary veno-venous bypass, we opened the IVC at the root of the inferior right hepatic vein to remove the tumor embolus after oblique clamping of the IVC between the right and middle hepatic veins was carried out to preserve perfusion in the remnant liver. Preserving perfusion in the remmant liver in radical hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor embolism in the IVC appears to be a safe and advantageous technique in patients with poor liver reserve.     

Liver resection using total vascular exclusion of the liver preserving the caval flow,in situ hypothermic portal perfusion and temporary porta-caval shunt: a new technique for central tumors

Standard total vascular exclusion (TVE) of the liver is indicated for resection of tumors involving or adjacent to the vena cava and/or the confluence of the hepatic veins. The duration of liver ischemia can be prolonged by combined portal hypothermic perfusion of the liver (in or ex situ). The use of a venovenous bypass (VVB) during standard TVE maintains stable hemodynamics as well as optimal renal and splanchnic venous drainage. When the hepatic veins can be controlled, TVE preserving the caval flow negates the need for VVB. However this technique remains limited in duration as it is performed under warm ischemia (so-called normothermia) of the liver. To prolong the ischemia time, we have designed a modification of TVE with preservation of the caval flow including the use of temporary porta-caval shunt (PCS) and hypothermic perfusion of the liver. We describe here the first two cases of this new technique. Two patients underwent left hepatectomy extended to segments 5 and 8 (also called extended left hepatectomy) for large centrally located tumors. TVE lasted seventy-two and seventy-nine minutes, respectively. The postoperative course was uneventful and both patients were discharged on day ten and day twenty-five respectively. Both are alive without recurrence at ten and seven months following surgery. Provided the roots of the hepatic veins can be controlled, this technique combines the advantages of standard TVE with in situ hypothermic perfusion and VVB and obviates the need and the subsequent risks of the latter.     

选择性患侧肝血流阻断下的肝切除术

目的 探讨选择性阻断或结扎患侧肝动脉、门静脉干、及患侧肝静脉并在肝后隧道置阻断带联合阻断进行肝切除术的效果.方法 自2007年3月至2008年2月,对14例肝肿瘤患者采取预先将患侧肝动脉、门静脉和肝静脉阻断或结扎并在肝后下腔静脉隧道置阻断带联合阻断下完成肝切除术.结果 全组14例患者在分离肝右静脉过程发生小破裂口2例,缝合后出血停止.本组患者无下腔静脉或肝短静脉意外损伤.在切肝过程中出血最少100 ml,最多600 ml,平均出血量280ml.并发少最胸腔积液4例,1例通过胸穿抽液治愈,其余3例自行吸收.无肝功能严重损害、胆瘘和腹腔感染以及其他并发症.结论 预先进行患侧肝动脉、门静脉干、及肝静脉阻断或结扎方法 以及利用肝后隧道放置阻断带联合阻断下进行肝切除术可以减少术中出血、及对侧肝再灌注损伤.     

中央型巨大肝癌的手术切除及疗效观察

目的　探讨中央型巨大肝癌手术切除的方法和疗效。方法　回顾性分析 1995年以来所切除的直径 >10cm的中央型巨大肝癌病例 ,包括位于左内、右前和全尾叶的肝细胞癌、胆管细胞癌及转移性肝癌。结果　共切除同时累及第一、二、三肝门的中央型巨大肝癌 4 0例 ,肿瘤直径平均为13 6 (10 5～ 19 0 )cm ;肝切除术式包括扩大中肝叶切除 9例 ,不规则中肝叶切除 13例 ,扩大左半肝切除 13例 ,全尾叶加扩大左半肝切除 3例 ,扩大右半肝切除 2例 ;平均手术时间为 197(90～ 380 )min ,平均手术失血量为 15 96 (30 0～ 110 0 0 )ml,全组无手术死亡 ,发生明显并发症者 8例 (2 0 % ) ;随访全组病例术后 1、3、5年生存率分别为 88%、5 6 %和 2 8%。结论　巨大中央型肝癌多同时累及 3个肝门 ,手术切除较为困难 ,但手术仍然是首选的治疗方法     

Emergency orthotopic liver transplantation in two patients using one donor liver

Because of its anatomy, the liver can be divided into two hemilivers suitable for use as two grafts for liver transplantation. The line of division is the main scissure, giving the right hemiliver (segments 5-8) and the left hemiliver (segments 2-4). Segment 1 (caudate lobe) has to be resected. The vessels are divided between the two grafts: the vena cava remains on the right; on the left, the left hepatic vein is sutured into the vena cava of the recipient, which is retained intact. The left graft retains only the left branch of the portal vein, the bile duct and the hepatic artery. The right graft retains the portal trunk, the common bile duct and the right branch of the hepatic artery. This procedure was used for emergency grafting of two patients with fulminant hepatitis when only one donor was available. Both recipients recovered from coma and regained normal liver function. However, both died from causes not specifically related to the operative technique, one from multiple organ failure on the 20th day and the other from diffuse cytomegalovirus infection on the 45th day.     

Extended Left Hepatectomy by Severing All Major Hepatic Veins with Reconstruction of the Right Hepatic Vein

Curative liver resection is technically challenging when multiple liver metastases from colon cancer involve the confluence of the three major hepatic veins. We report two cases of successful extended left hemihepatectomy achieved by severing all of the major hepatic veins together with the wall of the inferior vena cava, to resect liver metastases from colon cancer. Reconstruction of the right hepatic vein was done after unroofing the right anterior area of the liver with a direct anastomosis of the right hepatic vein. We did not need to perform total vascular exclusion or portovenous shunting during the liver transection. This simple and safe method can increase the surgical indications for previously unresectable tumors.     

Orthotopic transplantation of segmental hepatic graft from living donors in the dog. Technic and results

The authors describe new technic of non-auxiliary orthotopic transplantation of segmental liver harvested from living dogs. 32 dogs were utilized. In the donor dogs, the left medial and lateral lobes were mibilized. The left portal branch, left hepatic artery, left biliary branch and the left hepatic vein were dissected free. The segmental liver graft was perfused and cooled in-situ through the left portal vein. The recipient dogs underwent two steps total hepatectomy: First the segments I, II, III, IV and V were resected. The segments VI and VII were maintained as well as the right portal vein and the retro-hepatic inferior vena cava order to keep the splanchnic and caval flux and to avoid the spleno-cavo-jugular by-pass. The segmental liver graft was then transplanted in an orthotopic position. Termino-lateral hepatico-caval anastomosis and left porto-portal anastomosis as well as arterial and biliary reconstruction were executed. All the donors survived more than 30 days. Nine recipient dogs died during the first three post-operative days from hemorrhage (3 dogs), fibrinolysis (2 dogs), primary non function of the graft (2 dogs) and hepatic artery thrombosis (1 dog). Seven recipients survived more than 30 days.     

The paracaval segments of the liver

Two segments constitute thedorsal sector: I to the left and in front of the inferior vena cava, and IX in front and to the right of the cava; they are united inferiorly by the caudate process. Segment I includes the caudate lobe, and segment IX is incorporated in the posterior surface of the right liver. Small dorsal pedicles, which are quite numerous, arise from the posterior margin of the main portal elements, and ascend upward. Segment I receives twigs from the left or right livers, many from the right lateral pedicle (67 biliary branches enter the right lateral duct, the unique duct in three cases). Segment IX consists of three subsegments. IXb lies under the interval between the middle and right superior hepatic veins, in 40% of the cases examined the veins come from the left portal vein or the bifurcation, in 6 cases the ducts enter the left hepatic duct, in 40 cases the branches extend higher than the plane of the main hepatic veins, in 18 cases reaching the upper surface of the liver. IXc is under the right hepatic vein, and IXd is to the right of a vertical plane passing by the right superior vein. Hepatic veins, enter the cava directly, sometimes the middle or the left hepatic veins.     

The caudate processus hepatic vein: a boundary hepatic vein between the caudate lobe and the right liver

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to find the boundary vein indicating the intersegmental plane between the caudate lobe and the adjacent liver segments. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Major hepatic veins of the human liver commonly run through the intersegmental plane and are widely used for the landmarks to define the boundary of both sides of liver segments. As the caudate lobe is a small independent unit of the liver separate from the right and left livers, the existence of the boundary hepatic vein to the adjacent liver segments has been expected. METHODS: Fifty-four adult cadaveric livers were minutely dissected to elucidate the correlation between the portal vein branches and the hepatic veins on both the caudate lobe and the adjacent liver segments. RESULTS: Among the hepatic veins of the caudate lobe, the caudate processus hepatic vein entering the inferior vena cava at hepatic hilum runs in the segmental plane between the caudate processus and the right liver. Three types of the caudate processus hepatic vein directly entering the inferior vena cava and 1 type of the exceptional hepatic vein that was the tributary of the right hepatic vein were observed. They drained the blood of the caudate processus and a part of the right liver, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The caudate processus hepatic vein is one of the candidates of the hepatic vein indicating the boundary between the caudate lobe and the adjacent liver segments. New procedures will be developed on the liver surgeries by acquiring the anatomic features of this vein.     

肝Spigel叶和尾状突的外科局部解剖

目的 从外科实用角度解剖研究Spigel叶，从而估计在Spigel叶切除术中和背驮式肝移植术中可能遇到的问题。方法 对30个正常成人新鲜肝标本进行解剖。解剖前经门静脉灌注硫酸钡胶以便观察Spigel叶门脉系分支状况。结果 剥离的Spigel叶似锥体形，有三个面，尖部和底部。尖部与左肝静脉毗邻，底部向右与尾状突相连并有门脉系管道进出，形成蒂，腔静脉面为向左的凹形面，有1-4支Spigel叶静脉汇入下腔静脉左壁。结论 Spigel叶位于肝后，须游离肝左外叶，切断肝胃韧带方能良好显露，切除Spigel叶的关键步骤是从腔静脉面分离切断直接汇入下腔静脉的引流静脉支，在背驮式肝移植中这也是一个重要步骤。     

门静脉-下腔静脉吻合术预防活体肝移植术后小肝综合征3例报道

目的探讨门静脉-下腔静脉吻合术用于预防活体肝移植术后小肝综合征(small-for-size liver syndrome,SFSS)的效果。方法 3例活体肝移植均采用不含肝中静脉的右半肝作为移植物。术中发现实测移植物(肝)重量/受体的体质量(体重)的比值(graft to recipient weight ratio,GRWR)为0.58%、0.77%及0.71%,均<0.8%,符合小移植物的诊断。处理:首先吻合肝静脉流出道,其次吻合门静脉,将受体门静脉右支与移植肝门静脉右支端端吻合,将受体门静脉左支与下腔静脉行端侧吻合达到门腔分流的作用,之后按顺序吻合动脉和胆道。术中均未行脾静脉结扎或脾切除等处理。术后定期随访。结果 3例患者术后均未发生SFSS并顺利出院,出院时间分别为术后25d、34d及56d。移植肝功能逐步好转,术后1d门静脉流速理想。移植肝增长良好。门静脉-下腔静脉短路通畅时间:除1例通畅持续仅104d,其余2例持续通畅。结论 LDLT术中进行门静脉-下腔静脉吻合术可以及时有效预防小移植物背景下的SFSS,受体门静脉左支与下腔静脉行端侧吻合的分流技术安全可靠。     

Preoperative Evaluation of Hepatic Vasculature by Three-Dimensional Computed Tomographyin Patients Undergoing Hepatectomy

Background Hepatectomy is particularly difficult when the tumor is large, close to the inferior vena cava or the main trunk of the hepatic or portal vein, or in the caudate lobe, as well as when the operation is a re-hepatectomy, because two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) often does not clearly show tumor location relative to blood vessels. Study Design To evaluate the efficacy of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), reconstructed from multidetector-row computed tomography (MD-CT) with contrast, MD-CT was performed in 17 patients before hepatectomy. Results The third-order branches of the hepatic artery and the portal vein were clearly shown in all cases. Both the hepatic vein, which drained the same segment that the portal vein fed, and the portal vein were also clearly shown. These vessels could be visualized from any perspective. In 2 patients who underwent hemihepatectomy, large tumors (23.0 and 17.0 cm) displaced the vasculature, but the positions of tumor and vessels could be precisely evaluated by 3D-CT. In patients who required replacement of the vena cava with synthetic grafts, the distance and direction of pressure to IVC by tumor was accurately estimated by 3D-CT. In patients who were limited to segmentectomy or partial hepatectomy because of prior hepatectomy or tumor position, evaluation of the glissons was facilitated by 3D-CT. Conclusions Three-dimensional-CT was extremely useful for preoperative simulation because it provided important information that could not be obtained with 2D-CT.     

肝血流出道阻断后腹腔镜肝切除术

目的:探讨下腔静脉气囊导管阻断肝静脉流出道在腹腔镜肝切除术中的可行性。方法:用特制的带中央分流管的气囊导管阻断肝静脉血流,观察血流动力学和下腔静脉、肝静脉血流改变,行左半肝切除。结果:受试动物均耐受了腹腔镜左半肝切除。实验过程中平均动脉压轻度下降,心输出量下降至基础值的70％,中心静脉压下降明显,气囊内液体排除后,血流动力学指标均立即恢复正常。气囊充盈后,肝静脉血流几乎消失,下腔静脉中有部分血流通过。结论:用带中央分流的气囊导管阻断肝静脉血流行腹腔镜肝切除术安全、可行。