Hepatic artery thrombosis following living donor liver transplantation: A 14‐year experience at a single center

Single-center experience of intraoperative ligation of the splenic artery for prevention of splenic artery steal syndrome in patients after living donor liver transplant

Background. Living donor liver transplant is an effective method of treatment in patients with different types of endstage liver diseases. Unfortunately, patients undergoing such a complex treatment sometimes develop various vascular complications. Splenic artery steal syndrome has emerged as a cause of graft ischemia in living donor liver transplant recipients and may lead to high liver enzyme levels, cholestasis, hepatic artery thrombosis, and even a graft loss in some severe cases.

Objective. Evaluation of the first results in the experience of our center with a routine intraoperative ligation of the splenic artery during the procedure of right lobe living donor liver transplantation in adult recipients for the prevention of the steal syndrome development in the postoperative period.

Material and methods. Living donor liver transplant recipients with known hepatic arterial flow impairment were retrospectively studied. Patients were allocated into groups with regard whether the splenic artery had been ligated or not during the transplant procedure. Arterial complications were reviewed in both groups.

Results. None of 30 patients with ligated splenic artery developed splenic artery steal syndrome after living donor liver transplant. splenic artery steal syndrome occurred in 60% patients with non-ligated splenic artery. Surgical technique of performing arterial anastomosis was not related to the splenic artery steal syndrome development (p<0.01 There was no local ischemic necrosis noted in the spleen in patients with the ligated splenic artery.

Conclusion. Based on the analysis of our own experience and literature data, the splenic artery ligation appears to be an effective and safe method for preventing a splenic artery steal syndrome in patients following right lobe liver transplantation, with a minimal risk of ischemic complications for the spleen. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to obtain more reliable results. Ultrasound examination and endovascular intervention are the primary tools for an early detection of abnormalities and rapid restoration of arterial blood flow in the hepatic artery of the graft.

Redo hepatic artery reconstruction for thrombosis without retransplantation in 1355 adult living donor liver transplantations

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation is associated with a marked increase in morbidity, leading to graft and patient loss. We evaluated the outcomes of adult living donor liver transplantation patients with HAT under an aggressive surgical intervention. A total of 1355 recipients underwent adult living donor liver transplantation at the Seoul National University Hospital. Surgical redo reconstruction for HAT was performed in all cases except in those with graft hepatic artery injury and late detection of HAT. Postoperative HAT developed in 33 cases (2.4%) at a median time of 3.5 days. Thirty patients (90.9%) underwent redo-arterial reconstruction. The survival rates in patients with HAT were similar to the rates in those without HAT (72.7% vs. 83.8%, p = 0.115). Although graft survival rates were lower in patients with HAT (84.8%) than in those without HAT (98.0%) ( p < 0.001), the graft survival rate was comparable (92.0% vs. 98.0%, p = 0.124) in the 25 patients with successful revascularization. Biliary complication rates were higher in patients with HAT (54.5%) than in those without HAT (32.0%) ( p = 0.008). In conclusion, the successful redo reconstruction under careful selection criteria saved the graft without retransplantation in 96.0% of the cases. Surgical revascularization should be preferentially considered for the management of HAT in adult living donor liver transplantation.

Neutrophil extracellular traps and complications of liver transplantation

Many end-stage liver disease etiologies are attributed to robust inflammatory cell recruitment. Neutrophils play an important role in inflammatory infiltration and neutrophil phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and degranulation. It has also been suggested that neutrophils may release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to kill pathogens. It has been proven that neutrophil infiltration within the liver contributes to an inflammatory microenvironment and immune cell activation. Growing evidence implies that NETs are involved in the progression of numerous complications of liver transplantation, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, acute rejection, thrombosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence. NETs are discussed in this comprehensive review, focusing on their effects on liver transplantation complications. Furthermore, we discuss NETs as potential targets for liver transplantation therapy.

Management of early hepatic artery thrombosis following living-donor liver transplantation: feasibility, efficacy and potential risks of endovascular therapy in the first 48 hours post-transplant-a retrospective cohort study

This retrospective cohort study aims to review our 18-year experience with early hepatic artery thrombosis (e-HAT) following living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), as well as to assess the feasibility, efficacy and potential risks of endovascular management of e-HAT in the first 48 hours (hrs) post-LDLT. Medical records of 730 patients who underwent LDLT were retrospectively reviewed. In all cases who had developed e-HAT, treatment modalities employed and their outcomes were evaluated. Thirty-one patients developed e-HAT(4.2%). Definite technical success and 1-year survival rates of surgical revascularization[11/31 cases(35.5%)] were 72.7% & 72.7%, whereas those of endovascular therapy[27/31 cases(87.1%)] were 70.4% & 59.3%, respectively. Endovascular therapy was carried out in the first 48hrs post-transplant in 9/31 cases(29%) [definite technical success:88.9%, 1-year survival:55.6%]. Four procedure-related complications were reported in 3 of those 9 cases(33.3%). In conclusion, post-LDLT e-HAT can be treated by surgical revascularization or endovascular therapy, with comparable results. Endovascular management of e-HAT in the first 48hrs post-LDLT appears to be feasible and effective, but is associated with a relatively higher risk of procedure-related complications, compared to surgical revascularization. Hence, it can be reserved as a second-line therapeutic option in certain situations where surgical revascularization is considered futile, potentially too complex, or potentially more risky.

Liver Transplantation for Propionic Acidemia: Evidence from A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The worldwide experience of liver transplantation (LT) in the treatment of propionic acidemia (PA) remains limited and fragmented. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of post-transplant clinical outcomes in PA patients.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies focusing on PA patients who underwent LT. The pooled estimate rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model with Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies involving 70 individuals were included. The pooled estimate rates were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.80-1.00) for patient survival and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.72-1.00) for allograft survival. The pooled estimate rates were 0.20 (95% CI, 0.05-0.39) for rejection, 0.08 (95% CI, 0.00-0.21) for hepatic artery thrombosis, 0.14 (95% CI, 0.00-0.37) for cytomegalovirus/Epstein-Barr virus infection and 0.03 (95% CI, 0.00-0.15) for biliary complications. The pooled estimate rates were 0.98 (95% CI, 0.88-1.00) for metabolic stability, 1.00 (95% CI, 0.79-1.00) for reversal of pre-existing cardiomyopathy and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.78-1.00) for improvement of neurodevelopmental delay. A large proportion of patients achieved liberalization of protein intake posttransplant [pooled estimate rate 0.66 (95% CI, 0.35-0.93)].

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the risk of transplant-related complications, LT is a viable therapeutic option in PA patients, with satisfactory survival rates and clinical outcomes. Given the diversity in neurological assessment methods and the inconsistency in achievement of dietary protein liberalization across different studies, consensus on neurological evaluation methods and post-transplant protein intake is necessary. Longer-term clinical outcomes of LT for PA warrants further investigation.