Which types of graft to use in patients with acute liver failure? (A) Auxiliary liver transplant (B) Living donor liver transplantation (C) The whole liver. (A) I prefer auxiliary liver transplant

Acute Liver Failure in Children

Acute liver failure (ALF) in children, irrespective of cause, is a rapidly evolving catastrophic clinical condition that results in high mortality and morbidity without prompt identification and intervention. Massive hepatocyte necrosis impairs the synthetic, excretory, and detoxification abilities of the liver, with resultant coagulopathy, jaundice, metabolic disturbance, and encephalopathy. Extrahepatic organ damage, multiorgan failure, and death result from circulating inflammatory mediators released by the hepatocytes undergoing necrosis. There are yet no treatment options available for reversing or halting hepatocellular necrosis, thus current therapy focuses on supporting failing organs and preventing life threatening complications pending either spontaneous liver recovery or transplantation. The aims of this review are to define pediatric acute liver failure (PALF), understand the pathophysiologic processes that lead to multiorgan failure, to describe the consequences of a failing liver on extrahepatic organs, to enumerate the critical care challenges encountered during PALF management, and to describe pharmacologic and extracorporeal options available to support a critically ill child with ALF in the intensive care unit.

Liver transplantation for acute liver failure

Before liver transplantation became widely applicable as a treatment option, the mortality rate for acute liver failure was as high as 85%. Today, acute liver failure is a relatively common transplant indication in some settings, but the results of liver transplantation in this context appear to be worse than those for chronic forms of liver disease. In this review, we discuss the indications and contraindications for urgent liver transplantation. In particular, we consider the roles of auxiliary, ABO-incompatible, and urgent living donor liver transplantation and address the management of a «status 1» patient with total hepatectomy and portocaval shunt for toxic liver syndrome.

Auxiliary partial liver transplantation for acute liver failure using "high risk" grafts: Case report

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a reversible disorder that is associated with an abrupt loss of hepatic mass, rapidly progressive encephalopathy and devastating complications. Despite its high mortality, an emergency liver transplantation nowadays forms an integral part in ALF management and has substantially improved the outcomes of ALF. Here, we report the case of a 32-year-old female patient who was admitted with grade IV hepatic encephalopathy (coma) following drug-induced ALF. We performed an emergency auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation with a “high risk” graft (liver macrovesicular steatosis approximately 40%) from a living donor. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 57 with normal liver function. Weaning from immunosuppression was achieved 9 mo after transplantation. A follow-up using CT scan showed a remarkable increase in native liver volume and gradual loss of the graft. More than 6 years after the transplantation, the female now has a 4-year-old child and has returned to work full-time without any neurological sequelae.

Simplified technique for auxiliary orthotopic liver transplantation using a whole graft

BACKGROUND

Acute liver failure is associated with a high mortality rate and the main purposes of treatment are to prevent cerebral edema and infections, which often are responsible for patient death. The orthotopic liver transplantation is the gold standard treatment and improves the 1-year survival.

AIM

To describe an alternative technique to auxiliary liver transplant on acute liver failure.

METHOD

Was performed whole auxiliary liver transplantation as an alternative technique for a partial auxiliary liver transplantation using a whole liver graft from a child removing the native right liver performed a right hepatectomy. The patient met the O'Grady's criteria and the rational to indicate an auxiliary orthotopic liver transplantation was the acute classification without hemodynamic instability or renal failure in a patient with deterioration in consciousness.

RESULTS

The procedure improved liver function and decreased intracranial hypertension in the postoperative period.

CONCLUSION

This technique can overcome some postoperative complications that are associated with partial grafts. As far as is known, this is the first case of auxiliary orthotopic liver transplantation in Brazil.

A new rat model of auxiliary partial heterotopic liver transplantation with liver dual arterial blood supply

Auxiliary partial heterotopic liver transplantation (APHLT) with portal vein arterialization is a valuable procedure to be considered in the treatment of patients with acute liver failure and metabolic liver diseases. The aim of this study was to develop a new rat model of APHLT with liver dual arterial blood supply (LDABS). A total of 20 rats were used. The donor liver was resected, and the celiac trunk was reserved. Left and medial hepatic lobes accounting for 70% of the liver mass were removed en bloc and the suprahepatic caval vein was ligated simultaneously. Thus, 30% of the donor liver was obtained as the graft. Sleeve anastomosis of the graft portal vein and splenic artery were performed after narrowing the portal vein lumen through suturing. The right kidney of the recipient was removed, and sleeve anastomosis was performed between the celiac trunk of the graft and the right renal artery of the recipient. In addition, end-to-end anastomosis was performed between the infrahepatic caval vein of the graft and the right renal vein of the recipient. Following the reperfusion of the graft, the blood flow of the arterialized portal vein was controlled within the physiological range through suturing and narrowing under monitoring with an ultrasonic flowmeter. The bile duct of the graft was implanted into the duodenum of the recipient through an internal stent catheter. A 70% section of the native liver (left and medial hepatic lobes) was resected using bloodless hepatectomy. The mean operative duration was 154.5±16.4 min, and the warm and cold ischemia times of the graft were 8.1±1.1 min and 64.5±6.6 min, respectively. The blood flow of the arterialized portal vein to the graft was 1.8±0.3 ml/min/g liver weight. The success rate of model establishment (waking with post-surgical survival of >24 h) was 70% (7/10). Following successful model establishment, all rats survived 7 days post-surgery (100%; 7/7). The graft was found to be soft in texture and bright red in color following exploratory laparotomy. In conclusion, a new rat model of APHLT with LDABS without stent for vascular reconstruction was developed. This is a feasible and reliable rat model for liver transplantation study.

Subtotal hepatectomy and whole graft auxiliary transplantation for acetaminophen-associated acute liver failure

BACKGROUND

An acetominophen overdose (AOD) is the leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF) in the UK and USA. For patients who meet the King's College Hospital criteria, (mortality risk > 85%), an emergency orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is conventionally performed with subsequent life-long immunosuppression. A new technique was developed in 1998 for AOD-induced ALF where a subtotal hepatectomy (right hepatic trisectionectomy) and whole graft auxiliary liver transplant (WGALT) was performed with complete withdrawal of immunosupression during the first year post-operatively.

RESULTS

During 1998-2010, 68 patients were listed for an emergency transplantation for AOD ALF at our institution: 28 died waiting, 16 underwent OLT and 24 a subtotal hepatectomy with WGALT. Eight OLT (50%) and 16 WGALT remain alive (67%); actuarial survival at 5 years OLT 50%, WGALT 63%, P = 0.37. All patients who had successful WGALT are off immunosuppression. Poor prognostic factors in the WGALT group included higher donor age (40.4 versus 53.9, P = 0.043), requirements for a blood transfusion (4.3 versus 7.6, P = 0.0043) and recipient weight (63.1 versus 54 kg, P = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

Although OLT remains standard practice for AOD-induced ALF, life-long immunosuppression is required. A favourable survival rate using a subtotal hepatectomy and WGALT has been demonstrated, and importantly, all successful patients have undergone complete immunosuppression withdrawal. This technique is advocated for patients who have acetominophen hepatotoxicity requiring liver transplantation.

Development of a new auxiliary heterotopic partial liver transplantation technique using a liver cirrhosis model in minipigs: Preliminary report of eight transplants

This study aimed to develop a new auxiliary heterotopic partial liver transplantation (AHPLT) technique in minipigs using a model of liver cirrhosis. Based on our previous study, 14 minipigs were induced to cirrhosis by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) through intraperitoneal injection. All of the cirrhotic animals were utilized as recipients. The donor's liver was placed on the recipient's splenic bed, and the anastomosis was performed as follows: end-to-end anastomosis between the donor's portal vein and the recipient's splenic vein, end-to-side anastomosis between the donor's suprahepatic vena cava and the recipient's suprahepatic vena cava, and end-to-end anastomosis between the donor's hepatic artery and the recipient's splenic artery. The common bile duct of the donor was intubated and bile was collected with an extracorporeal bag. Vital signs, portal vein pressure (PVP), hepatic venous pressure (HVP) and portal vein pressure gradient (PVPG) were monitored throughout the transplantation. All 8 minipigs that developed liver cirrhosis were utilized to establish the new AHPLT; 7 cases survived. Following the surgical intervention, the PVP and PVPG of the recipients were lower than those prior to the operation (P<0.05), whereas the PVP and PVPG of the donors increased significantly compared to those of the normal animals (P<0.05). A new operative technique for AHPLT has been successfully described herein using a model of liver cirrhosis.

Fulminant hepatic failure: when to transplant

Fulminant hepatic failure is a life-threatening condition that can lead to rapid deterioration and death if timely treatment is not instituted. Many patients recover with supportive care. Patients with deteriorating signs and laboratory parameters require prompt assessment and listing for liver transplantation. Outcome following transplantation is a function of severity of illness before transplantation, timeliness of liver transplantation and graft quality and function. With appropriate immunosuppression and close follow-up most patients can lead near normal lives following liver transplantation.

Auxiliary liver transplantation for acute liver failure in children

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to present the largest experience of auxiliary liver transplantation for acute liver failure (ALF) in children over the past 19 years.

METHODS

Between 1990 and 2009, a total of 128 liver transplants were performed on children with ALF. Of these, 20 received auxiliary liver transplants (19 were cadaveric and 1 living graft). The recipient median age was 12 years (range: 1 -16). Indications for auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation were seronegative non-A non-B hepatitis in 16 children, drug induced in 2, and 1 autoimmune hepatitis and 1 mushroom poisoning. The median waiting time for transplantation was 2 days (range: 1-9). After native liver partial hepatectomy, 20 grafts were implanted orthotopically and included 8 right lobes, 8 left lateral segments, 3 left lobes, and 1 whole liver. Regeneration of the native liver was assessed by radiologic, nuclear medicine imaging, and histology. Follow-up imaging and biopsies were performed at intervals of 3 to 6 months and yearly.

RESULTS

Patient survival was 85% at 1, 5, and 10 years. There were 3 deaths at a median of 9 days (range: 8-52) post-transplantation. There was 1 retransplant for chronic rejection 15 months post-transplantation. There were no biliary or vascular complications. Of 17 survivors, 14 (82%) have successfully regenerated their native liver and so far 11 children (65% of the survivors) have been withdrawn from immunosuppression at a median time of 23 months (range: 4-106) after transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation should be considered in children presenting with ALF who fulfill criteria for liver transplantation.

Continuous peritransplant assessment of consciousness using bispectral index monitoring for patients with fulminant hepatic failure undergoing urgent liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Rapid deterioration of consciousness is a critical situation for patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Bispectral (BIS) index was derived from electroencephalography parameters, primarily to monitor the depth of unconsciousness.

AIM

To assess the usability of peritransplant BIS monitoring in patients with FHF.

METHODS

A prospective study using peritransplant BIS monitoring was performed in 26 patients with FHF undergoing urgent liver transplantation (LT).

RESULTS

Pre-transplant Child-Pugh score was 12.2 +/- 1.0; model for end-stage liver disease score was 32.4 +/- 4.4; Glasgow coma score (GCS) was 9.9 +/- 1.3; and BIS index was 44.0 +/- 6.7. Pre-transplant sedation significantly decreased BIS index. After LT, all patients having endotracheal intubation recovered consciousness within one to three d and showed progressive increase in BIS index, which appeared slightly earlier and was more evident than the increase in derived GCS score. There was a significant correlation between BIS index and derived GCS scores (r(2) = 0.648). Timing of eye opening to voice was matched with BIS index of 66.3 +/- 10.4 and occurred 12.7 +/- 8.3 h after passing BIS index of 50.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that BIS monitoring is a non-invasive, simple, easy-to-interpret method, which is useful in assessing peritransplant state of consciousness. BIS monitoring may therefore be a useful tool during peritransplant intensive care for patients with FHF showing hepatic encephalopathy.

Acute liver failure and living donor liver transplantation

Acute liver failure (ALF) is defined by the presence of hepatic encephalopathy due to severe liver damage in patients without pre-existing liver disease. Although the mortality of ALF without liver transplantation is over 80%, the survival rates of ALF patients have improved considerably with the advent of liver transplantation, up to 60-80% in the last decade. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), which has mainly evolved in Asian countries where organ availability from deceased donors is extremely scarce, has also improved the survival rate of ALF patients. According to recent reports, the overall survival rate of adult ALF patients who underwent LDLT is 60% to 90%. Although there is still controversy regarding the graft type, the optimal graft volume, and ethical issues of defining the indications for LDLT in ALF patients with respect to donor risk, LDLT has become an established treatment option for ALF in areas where the use of deceased donors organs is severely restricted.