ObjectiveTo analyze the death causes of postoperative early-stage after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in rats, and to provide appropriate treatment strategies. MethodsThree hundreds of rat OLT models were performed by modified Kamada two-cuff technique. Operation time of each stage during OLT and postoperative survival time of rats were recorded and analyzed. According to survival time, the rats were divide into 4 groups:intraoperative death group (rats died during operation), < 6 hours group, 6-24 hours group, and > 24 hours group. Then comparison of operation time of each stage during OLT in rats of 4 groups was performed, and reasons of death during 24 hours after OLT were analyzed. ResultsOf the 300 OLT models, 37 rats died during operation (12.33%), 51 rats died within 6 hours after operation (17.00%), 76 rats died during 6-24 hours after operation (25.33%), and 136 rats survived longer than 24 hours (45.34%). The most common death causes of < 6 hours group were as follows:lose too much blood during the operation (27.45%, 14/51), postoperative bleeding (27.45%, 14/51), and vascular embolization (15.69%, 8/51). However, the most common death causes of 6-24 hours group were as follows:angiostenosis (27.63%, 21/76), postoperative bleeding (21.05%, 16/76), and pulmonary edema (19.74%, 15/76). There were significant differences in the cold ischemia time and anhepatic phase among the 4 groups (P < 0.05). The cold ischemia time and anhepatic phase of intraoperative death group were longer than those of other 3 groups (P < 0.05), in addition, the cold ischemia time of > 24 hours group was shorter than those of other 3 groups (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThere are many reasons leading to the early death after OLT. The long time of anhepatic phase and the cold ischemia time, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, thrombosis, angiostenosis, and pulmonary edema are key factors for the improvement of prognosis in rats after OLT operation. Improvements of the reasons above are helpful to improve the successful rate of modeling and quality of OLT rats.
ObjectiveTo investigate the early diagnostic value of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) on acute rejection after liver transplantation in rhesus by detecting the expression of TGF-β1 in the liver tissue. MethodsLiver transplantation models in rhesus were constructed by the improved vascular dual cuff, supporting tube of biliary tract, and artery anastomosis method.The successful models were randomly divided into experimental group (no immunosuppressant treatment in perioperative period) and control group (treated by immunosuppressant in perioperative period).Then the blood samples and liver tissues were collected at 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours after surgery.Allograft rejections of liver tissue after liver transplantation were monitored by liver function test, hematoxylin-eosin staining and Banff score.Finally, the expression level of TGF-β1 was detected by Western blot analysis or immunohistochemistry technique. Results①The acute rejection happened in all the rhesus at 12 h, 24 h and 72 h after liver transplantation, especially at 72 h after liver transplantation in the experimental group, the Banff grade levels of acute rejection in the liver tissue was more severe than that in the control group (P < 0.05).②The levels of ALT, AST, and TBIL after liver transplantation was gradually increased, which were similar at 6 h and 12 h after transplantation between the two groups, but which at 24 h and 72 h after transplantation in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).③The results of TGF-β1 protein expression using immunohistochemical detection:The percentage of positive area of TGF-β1 of liver tissue at 12 h in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).With the extension of time, it was gradually increased and significantly higher than that in the control group at 24 h or 72 h (P < 0.05).④The semi-quantitative results of TGF-β1 protein expression using Western blot detection:The TGF-β1 protein expressions began to increase at 6 h after liver transplantation in the experimental group and the control group, and the magnitude of increase was more obvious in the experimental group.The TGF-β1 protein expressions at different time (6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 72 h) in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P value was 0.003, 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). ConclusionsThe elevated level of TGF-β1 of liver tissue after liver transplantation might suggest the enhanced cellular immune function, it might have certain significance for early diagnosis of acute rejection after liver transplantation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate value of percutaneous interventional treatment for portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion following liver transplantation. Method The data of 3 patients with portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion following liver transplantation underwent interventional treatment were analyzed retrospectively. Resultsthe mural thrombi were detected preoperatively in the portal venous trunk for the 3 patients, all of which were classified as Yerdel's grade 1 and were underwent porto-portal anastomosis without thrombectomy during liver transplantation. Portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion occured after 8 months postoperatively. The percutaneous transhepatic balloon venoplasty and self-expanding metallic stents placement was performed in 3 patients. The interventional treatment was successfully achieved in all the patients. The follow-up period ranged from 28 to 38 months, no complications occurred following interventional treatment, the graft function and survival of patients were good. ConclusionPercutaneous interventional treatment is an efficacious and safe method to treat portal vein thrombosis combined with occlusion.