Prolonged anhepatic state after early liver graft removal

in Hepato-Gastroenterology (2007), 54(79, Oct-Nov), 2109-2112

Two-stage liver transplantation, i.e. salvage emergent total hepatectomy with prolonged anhepatic state, and subsequent liver transplantation, has been described as a life-saving procedure in selected ... [more ▼]

Two-stage liver transplantation, i.e. salvage emergent total hepatectomy with prolonged anhepatic state, and subsequent liver transplantation, has been described as a life-saving procedure in selected cases. The principal drawback of two-stage liver transplantation is the fact that anhepatic patient survival only depends on the future availability of a liver graft. The pathophysiologic alterations induced by total hepatectomy are not fully known, as it is not known how long a patient may be anhepatic before it is too late for hope of survival. In this report the authors describe the cases of three liver recipients who had to undergo salvage liver graft removal early during or after liver transplantation as a life-saving maneuver. All were afterwards registered for emergent liver retransplantation. Mean anhepatic period was 20 hours (Range: 17-24 hours). Two patients survived and fully recovered. From this experience and from other cases reported in the literature, the authors concluded that total hepatectomy may be life-saving in some cases if a liver graft is available in a timely manner. [less ▲]

Cadaveric whole liver transplantation for non-acetaminophen fulminant hepatic failure: A 20-year experience

in Journal of Hepatology (2007), 46(Suppl. 1), 66-67

Bloodless cadaveric liver transplantation: Experience with Jehovah's witness recipients

in Journal of Hepatology (2007), 46(Suppl. 1), 67

Right lobe living related liver transplantation in adults without venous drainage of the paramedian sector

in Transplantation Proceedings (2005), 37(6, Jul-Aug), 2865-2868

Introduction. There is some controversy on the necessity of venous reconstruction of the right paramedian sector (segments V and VIII) during right lobe living related liver transplantation. In this ... [more ▼]

Introduction. There is some controversy on the necessity of venous reconstruction of the right paramedian sector (segments V and VIII) during right lobe living related liver transplantation. In this report we describe the evolution of posttransplant graft function in five consecutive right lobe recipients without specific drainage of the right paramedian sector. Material and methods. The technique of common right hepatectomy for right lobe graft harvesting and transplantation did not include the middle hepatic vein in the graft. The mean total ischemic time was 51 minutes (ranges: 35 to 64 minutes). The mean graft to recipient weight ratio was 1.35% +/- 0.15%. No patient developed small-for-size syndrome. Results. All patients showed a rise in transaminases with a maximum at postoperative day 2 (mean aspartate aminotransferase: 1067 +/- 432 IU/mL). Liver function improved rapidly, with coagulation normalized at postoperative day 5. Bilirubin decreased progressively to normalize in three patients at postoperative day 14. Ultrasonography and computed tomography demonstrated that the paramedian sector of the right liver was congested, a state that was temporary with normalization of the liver tests and congestion disappeared at follow-up. No complication was linked to congestion. Discussion. This series showed that in right lobe liver transplantation with a relatively large-size graft, reconstruction of the hepatic veins of the paramedian sector may not be necessary despite the induction of some degree of venous congestion. In smaller grafts, this congestion might be avoided by reconstruction of the large veins draining segments V and VIII. [less ▲]

Organ Donors with Primary Central Nervous System Tumor

in Transplantation (2000), 70(1), 244-8251-2

Patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor have been accepted for organ donation because these tumors very rarely spread outside the CNS. However several case reports of CNS tumor ... [more ▼]

Patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor have been accepted for organ donation because these tumors very rarely spread outside the CNS. However several case reports of CNS tumor transferral with organ transplantation recently challenged this attitude. Some risk factors for extraneural spread of CNS tumors have been determined, but the absence of risk factors does not exclude the possibility of metastases. To our knowledge, 13 cases of CNS tumor transferral with organ transplantation (one heart, three livers, eight kidneys, one kidney/pancreas) have been reported in the literature. Even if no prospective evaluation of the CNS tumor transmission risk with transplantation has been undergone, this risk may be estimated between a little more than 0% and 3% from retrospective series. The authors consider that patients with CNS tumor should be accepted as donors as long as the risk of dying on the waiting lists is significantly higher than the tumor transferral risk. Therefore the authors would have no restriction for transplanting organs from donors with benign or low-grade CNS tumor. For high-grade tumors, the authors would consider these donors as "marginal donors," and balance the risk of tumor transmission with the medical condition of the recipient. [less ▲]

Malignancy transplantation with heart graft

in Journal of Heart & Lung Transplantation (1998), 17(3), 331-332