Computer-assisted operative planning in adult living donor liver transplantation: a new way to resolve the dilemma of the middle hepatic vein

Abstract

An adequate venous outflow is essential for securing viability of both graft and remnant in adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT). Seventy-five potential live liver donors were evaluated for LDLT by means of an "all-in-one" CT, which defined the biliary tree, portal vein, hepatic artery, and hepatic vein anatomy. The acquired data sets were further analysed by means of the software HepaVision (MeVis, Germany). Only a minority (29%) of potential donors were found to have a vascular and biliary anatomy consistent with the classically described "normal" patterns. The vast majority (71%) had "anatomical variations". Thirty-nine (52%) donors underwent ALDLT hepatectomy. The right hepatic vein was dominant in 64 cases, representing 48 +/- 6% of the total liver volume (TLV). The middle hepatic vein was dominant in 11 cases, making up 40 +/- 8% of the TLV. The left hepatic vein was never dominant. The volume contribution of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) was 114-782 ml for the right and 87-419 ml for the left hemiliver. Computer-assisted planning allows for the 3D reconstruction of the vascular and biliary anatomy, automatic calculation of the total and territorial liver volumes, and risk analysis of hepatic vein dominance relationships. This comprehensive data acquisition supports preoperative evaluation and provides a high degree of safety for donors and improved outcomes for recipients.