Objective To explore the causes and prognosis of liver retransplantation. Methods The clinical data of 215 cases who had underwent liver retransplantation in Tianjin First Central Hospital between Nov. 26th 2003 and May. 26th 2012 were analyzed retrospectively for its causes and prognosis. Results Two hundreds and fifteen cases were enrolled, including 200 cases of 2 times liver transplantation, 14 cases of 3 times liver transplantation, and 1 case of 4 times liver transplantation. The major causes of the second liver transplantation were biliary complication (53.5%, 115/215) and primary non-function or dysfunction of liver graft (8.4%, 18/215), and the major causes of the third liver transplantation were biliary complication (5/14) and hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence (2/14). The liver graft survival rate of late liver retransplantation (at least 1 month after operation) was significantly higher than that of early liver retrans-plantation (less than 1 month after operation) for the second liver transplantation (P=0.005). The liver graft survival rate of the second liver transplantation was significantly higher than that of the third liver transplantation (P=0.043). Compared with biliary complication, cases of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence (P=0.001) and primary non-function or dysfunction of liver graft (P=0.033) had lower graft survival rates, while cases of chronic failure of liver graft had a higher survival rate (P=0.037). Conclusions Biliary complication is the main cause of liver retransplantation. The liver retransplantations which are performed less than 1 month after prior liver transplantation result in a relative low survival rate in reason of the increase of perioperative death. The prognosis of liver retransplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence is unacceptable, while cases of chronic failure of liver graft have optimal prognosis.
Objective To report our experience in living donor liver harvesting of right lobe grafts. MethodsThe data of 76 living donors of right lobe grafts hepatectomy between August 2007 and December 2008 were studied. Before operation, the graft size, remnant liver volume rate, fatty liver, middle hepatic vein type, and the level of portal hypertension of recipient were comprehensive assessed to determine whether harvested middle hepatic vein. The graft was harvested depending on the port vein and hepatic artery ischemia-line. B-ultrasound was used to definite the structure and branch of middle hepatic vein, and intraoperative cholangiography was performed to definite the structure and variation of bile duct. Donor operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, levels of bilirubin, international normalized ratio (INR), and ALT, and complications after operation were recorded. Results All the operations were successful. The operative time was (8.3±1.3) h, the blood loss was (325±127) ml without blood transfusion in operation. The ALT, INR, and bilirubin recovered on the 12th day. The most common complication in early post-operation was wound infection in 5 cases, 4 cases had cholestasis, 4 cases occurred cross-section bile leakage, and 11 cases occurred varying degrees of delayed gastric emptying in 4~7 d after operation, who were all alleviated by corresponding treatments. The hospital stay was 9~21 d (median: 14 d) after operation. Conclusion Preoperative evaluation of the hepatic anatomy and precise surgical procedure are crucial, which will help the development of graft harvesting and rehabilitation of donor.