Objective To summarize the experience of l iving donor l iver transplantation using cryopreserved il iac vein for middle hepatic vein reconstruction. Methods Between July 2006 and June 2009, right l iver transplantation without middle hepatic vein was performed in 37 cases of 85 patients undergoing l iving donor l iver transplantation; of 37 cases, 30 received middle hepatic vein reconstruction using cryopreserved il iac vein. There were 27 males and 3 females, aged from 10 to 57 years (median, 44 years). Thirty cases included 11 hepatocellular carcinoma, 10 hepatic cirrhosis, 2 Wilson’ sdisease, 1 cholangiocarcinoma, 1 hepatoblastoma, 1 congenital hepatic fibrosis, 1 chronic severe hepatitis, and 1 congenital bil iary atresia. Il iac veins harvested from donors were put into 0-4℃ mixed antibiotics sal ine and transported to the operating room. The il iac veins were trimmed, placed into sterile bags (containing RMPI 1640 + 20% DMSO + 10% calf protein solution) and frozen at —70 . In l iving donor l iver transplantation process, the veins were melt and used for middle hepatic vein reconstruction. After operation, the patency of veins was monitored by regular Doppler ultrasound examination or enhanced CT for 3 months. Results In 30 patients, 30 il iac veins were used. The average cryopreserve time was 14 days (range, 3-44 days). Anastomosis were all successful; after cryopreservation, the blood vessels texture and elasticity were fit for surgery. No easily tearing or severe suture bleeding was observed. In 30 patients, 6 had segment V veins reconstruction; 3 had segment VIII; and 21 had both segments V and VIII. The patency rate of reconstructed vessels was 93% at 1 week, 90% at 2 weeks, 90% at 1 month, and 67% at 3 months. No serious compl ication was observed in donors. The prognosis was good with no small-for-size syndrome. Conclusion Cryopreserved il iac vein is an ideal material for the right hepatic l iving donor l iver transplantation in the reconstruction of middle hepatic vein.
Objective To investigate the diagnosis of organized thrombus in portal vein (PVOT) in liver transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 32 patients with PVOT who took the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) from January 2005 to January 2006 (271 cases) in this institute were retrospectively analyzed. Color doppler imaging (CDI), double helical CT plus three dimensional CT angiography (CTA) were taken before operation. CDI was performed during operation to look for the varicose vein, it was also used to reconstruct portal vein and measure the blood velocity in the portal vein. Results 23/32 (71.8%) cases had taken surgical treatment or interventional therapy before OLT. The grades of thrombus were as follows: gradeⅠ, 14/32; grade Ⅱ, 11/32; grade Ⅲ, 1/32; grade Ⅳ, 6/32. Twenty-eight cases of PVOT were diagnosed before operation, with accuracy of 87.5%. CDI was performed in 20 cases during operation, and 17 cases of collateral shunts were ligated with the monitor of ultrasound after the reconstruction of portal vein. The mean velocity of portal vein was (30.13±16.41) cm/s before the ligation of shunting veins, and the mean velocity was (46.36±19.82) cm/s after ligating the shunt veins. Conclusion Posibility of having PVOT for patients who had surgical treatment before OLT were much higher than who did not. CT and CTA could evaluate the portal vein system before operation, and performing CDI during operation may be important for the optimal reconstruction of portal vein.