Small-for-size syndrome after living-donor liver transplantation treated by "portal vein wrapping" and single plasmapheresis

Splenectomy affects the balance between hepatic growth factor and transforming growth factor-β and its effect on liver regeneration is dependent on the amount of liver resection in rats

Purpose

Small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) is a major problem in liver surgery, and splenectomy has been used to prevent SFSS. However, it is unknown whether splenectomy has the same effect on liver regeneration in both standard and marginal hepatectomy. The aim of this study is to see a difference in effect of splenectomy on liver regeneration according to the amount of liver resection.

Methods

Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (220 to 260 g) were divided into the following five groups: control (n = 6), 70% hepatectomy (n = 6), 70% hepatectomy with splenectomy (n = 6), 90% hepatectomy (n = 6), and 90% hepatectomy with splenectomy (n = 6). The animals were euthanized 24 hours after surgery and liver specimens were obtained. To assess liver regeneration, we performed immunohistochemistry of liver tissue using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling and Western blot analysis of hepatic growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the liver tissue.

Results

The splenectomized subgroup had a higher BrdU-positive cell count in the 90% hepatectomy group, but not in the 70% hepatectomy group (P < 0.001). Splenectomy significantly decreased TGF-β expression (P = 0.005) and increased the HGF to TGF-β ratio (P = 0.002) in the 90% hepatectomy group, but not in the 70% hepatectomy group.

Conclusion

The positive effect of splenectomy on liver regeneration was greater in the group with the larger liver resection. This phenomenon may be related to the relative balance between HGF and TGF-β in the liver.

Platelet transfusion can be related to liver regeneration after living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Although liver regeneration is a fundamental aspect of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the factors that affect liver regeneration during the early post-transplantation period have not been thoroughly investigated. Recently it was suggested that platelets contribute to liver regeneration. The aim of the present study was to identify the major factors that affect liver graft regeneration during the early post-transplantation period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-seven right liver grafted, adult-to-adult LDLT patients were retrospectively analyzed. Liver regeneration was assessed by volumetry from computed tomographic (CT) scans obtained between the 9th and 11th postoperative days. The authors investigated relationships between clinical variables and liver graft regeneration rates, and they conducted multiple regression analysis on factors found to be significant by univariate analysis.

RESULTS

Mean graft weight at operation was 722.9 +/- 109.7 g, and mean graft volume assessed by follow-up CT was 1,042.2 +/- 155.6 ml, reflecting a mean liver graft regeneration of 45.9 +/- 22.3%. The graft regeneration was found to correlate inversely with graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR, r = -0.406, p < 0.001) and directly with portal flow velocity (cm/s; r = 0.307; p = 0.004) and splenic index (cm(3); r = 0.282; p = 0.009). Moreover, the total amount (units) of platelets transfused was found to be significantly associated with graft regeneration (r = 0.293; p = -.006). Stepwise regression analysis showed that GRWR (beta = -33.124; p = 0.001), total amount of platelets transfused (beta = 0.771; p = 0.012), and splenic index (beta = -0.010; p = 0.049) were independently associated with graft regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study suggest that platelets play a significant role in human liver regeneration after LDLT.

Kidney failure following liver resection

In the recent 20 years liver resection has become a routine operation with reasonably low risk. Experienced hepatobiliary centers have reported low mortality rates (0%-5%) even in series with high-risk resection (extended right or left resection). Acute kidney failure correlates well with mortality. In our series, more than 70% of patients with kidney failure, who require dialysis died. Acute renal failure develops if patients are kept hypovolemic or the patient suffers from postresectional liver failure. Herein we discuss how kidney failure following liver resection can be avoided.