Dual graft living donor liver transplantation - a case report

Special Techniques of Liver Transplantation: Living Donor Liver Transplantation With Right Posterior Sector Grafts and Extended Left Lobe Grafts; Auxiliary Partial Orthotopic Liver Transplantation, and Dual-Lobe Liver Transplantation

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) constitutes the majority of liver transplants in Asia and advancements in LDLT techniques have expanded the range of allografts beyond the commonly used right lobe (RL). This review provides a comprehensive overview of lesser-known variants of allografts and LDLT techniques which include right posterior sector grafts (RPSG), dual-lobe liver transplantation (DLLT), auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT), and extended left lobe grafts with caudate concentrating on the technical aspects, current evidence, and their indications in contemporary practice of LDLT. The first section examines RPSGs, focussing on their potential as an alternative to RL grafts particularly when volumetric studies indicate a larger right posterior sector in donors. It addresses donor selection, surgical techniques, and potential complications. Next, the article explores DLLT, which optimizes graft volume through partial grafts from two donors. The emphasis is on the ethical considerations, surgical challenges, and haemodynamic risks, such as graft atrophy, highlighting the importance of careful donor selection and meticulous planning. The section on APOLT covers its application in treating acute liver failure (ALF) and metabolic liver diseases. The technique's ability to support liver function in ALF while avoiding long-term immunosuppression when the native liver regenerates is discussed, along with patient selection criteria and follow-up requirements. Finally, the review addresses left lobe grafts with caudate used in smaller adults and older children to increase functional graft volume and improve outcomes.

Evaluation and Management of Living Donors in the Setting of Living Donor Liver Transplant Program in the Republic of Uzbekistan

In the Republic of Uzbekistan, the history of liver transplantation began in 2018, but this type of medical care was introduced regularly only in 2021. The selection, preparation, and perioperative management of living liver donors can be complicated and have importance in the type of responsible medical care, which requires maximum doctor involvement at all stages. This review has detailed the donor selection algorithm in the Republic of Uzbekistan, donor preparation for liver resection, and basic principles of liver resection surgery in living donors. Algorithms for postoperative donor management and rehabilitation have also been described in detail.

Advocating for a "shift-to-left" in transplant oncology: left grafts, RAPID and dual graft

The extension of liver transplantation to new oncologic indications might exacerbate the shortage of grafts. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) may emerge as a viable resource, although its diffusion in the Western world is still very limited. Several groups have advocated for minimizing the impact on donors by reducing the extent of donor hepatectomy, i.e., shifting from right-lobe to left-lobe or left-lateral segment donation ("shift-to-left"). This is particularly relevant when dealing with non-established indications and could make it more acceptable both for potential donors and for the recipients. Left grafts can be transplanted straightforward, despite a higher risk of small-for-size syndrome, or they can be used in the setting of dual-graft LDLT or RAPID procedures, despite technical complexity. This review will expose the most relevant features of each technique, highlighting their strengths and pitfalls and focusing on outcomes. This wide set of tools should be available at high-volume transplant centers, to propose the best technique to adapt to donor-recipient matching.

Preliminary study of donor volume changes after dual-graft liver transplantation in rats

Dual-graft liver transplantation (DGLT) expands the pool of donors, ensures the safety of the donors, and treats a potential small for size syndrome (SFSS). However, some of the recipient graft showed atrophy. The cause and mechanism of the unbalanced proliferation and atrophy of dual grafts after clinical DGLT have not been clarified. We established and optimized the rat model of DGLT to explore the causes of growth unbalance. Continuously and dynamically observed bilateral graft volume and portal vein blood flow change by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US). We detected liver function indexes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and indirect bilirubin (IBIL). Liver samples from receptors were obtained for morphology, and apoptosis was measured by RT-PCR and western blot. Optimization of the model improved the 7-day survival rate from former 58.3% to 87.5%, and the 30-day survival rate was 68.8%. The volume of the right graft gradually increased, and the left graft atrophied during the 30-day observation period. The portal blood flow of the left graft gradually decreased until the 30th day (0.13 ± 0.01 ml/s) compared with the sham group (0.63 ± 0.05 ml/s), and the right graft significantly increased on the 30th day (0.75 ± 0.11ml/s). The liver function initially increased and then recovered. The total volume (12.52 ± 1.60 ml vs 4.47 ± 0.08 ml) and weight (12.09 ± 1 g vs 4.91 ± 0.18 g) of the graft increased significantly compared to pre-transplantation and reached the level of the sham operation group on the 30th day. The volume and weight of the right graft increased more than those of the left graft (P < 0.05). There was more inflammatory cell infiltration in the left graft, and the right graft had obvious proliferation of hepatocytes and mature bile duct cells. Left grafts were more prone to apoptosis than right grafts (P < 0.05). In conclusion, growth of the right graft is superior to the left; after double liver transplantation, perfusion blood flow and apoptosis may be the reason contributing to the volume differences in dual grafts.

Dual Graft Living Donor Liver Transplantation for High Acuity Patients: A Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND

The outcomes of dual graft living donor liver transplantation (DGLDLT) in high acuity patients remain underreported. The objective of this study was to report long-term outcomes from a single center in this select group of patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of patients who underwent DGLDLT between 2012 and 2017 (n = 10). High acuity patients were defined as patients with model for end stage liver disease (MELD) ≥30 or Child Pugh score ≥11. We looked at 90-day morbidity and mortality and 5-year overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

The median MELD score and Child Pugh score were 30 (26.7-35) and 11 (11-11.2). The median recipient weight was 105 (95.2-113.7) and ranged from 82 to 132 kg. Out of 10 patients, 4 (40%) required perioperative renal replacement therapy, and 8 (80%) required hospital admission for optimization. The estimated graft to recipient weight ratio (GRWR) with right lobe graft alone was <0.8 in all patients, between 0.75 and 0.65 in 5 (50%) patients, and <0.65 in 5 (50%) patients. The 90-day mortality was 3/10 (30%), and there were 3/10 (30%) deaths during long-term follow-up. Among 155 high acuity patients, the 1-year OS with standard LDLT, standard LDLT with GRWR <0.8, and DGLDLT was 82%, 76%, and 58%, respectively (P = 0.123). With a median follow-up of 40.6 (1.9-74.4) months, the 5-year OS for DGLDLT was 50%.

CONCLUSION

The use of DGLDLT in high acuity patients should be prudent and low GRWR grafts should be considered a viable alternative in selected patients.

Прижизненное донорство фрагментов печени. Тактика ведения родственных доноров фрагмента печени в условиях стационара, а также амбулаторно после резекции печени. 2023. [DOI: 10.61726/7507.2024.31.90.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Учебно-методическое пособие для практикующих врачей, клинических ординаторов, магистров и студентов 5-6 курсов высших медицинских учебных заведений "Прижизненное донорство фрагментов печени. Тактика ведения родственных доноров фрагмента печени в условиях стационара, а также амбулаторно после резекции печени"

Expanding Donor Selection and Recipient Indications for Living Donor Liver Transplantation

There is an acute shortage of deceased donor organs for liver transplantation in the United States. Nearly a third of patients either die or become too sick for transplant while on the transplant waitlist. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) bridges the gap between demand and supply of organs for liver transplantation. This article reviews current living donor selection criteria, and avenues for expansion of criteria with novel surgical techniques and ongoing outcomes research. Ways in which institutions can establish and expand LDLT programs using the Living Donor Champion model are discussed. Efforts to expand recipient indications for LDLT are described.