Hepatic arterial reconstruction in 95 adult right lobe living donor liver transplants: evolution of anastomotic technique

Abstract

The success of adult right-lobe living donor liver transplants (RLDLT) would not have been possible without the experience of the early pioneers of pediatric living donor liver transplants (LDLT). Our experience with 95 RLDLTs from July, 2000 to May, 2002 at a single institution is reported with specific emphasis on arterial reconstruction. The evolution of technique using the autogenous Y extension graft and the reverse extension bifurcated graft for arterial revascularization, which we believe has reduced the incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis, is described. Outcome and the incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis are reported.