Reducing the incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis in pediatric liver transplantation: Effect of microvascular techniques and a customized anticoagulation protocol

Abstract

We aimed to assess the incidence of HAT over three eras following implementation of microvascular techniques and a customized anticoagulation protocol in a predominantly cadaveric split liver transplant program. We retrospectively reviewed pediatric liver transplants performed between April 1986 and 2016 and analyzed the incidence HAT over three eras. In E1, 1986-2008, each patient received a standard dose of 5 U/kg/h of heparin and coagulation profiles normalized passively. In E2, 2008-2012, microvascular techniques were introduced. In E3, 2012-2016, in addition, a customized anticoagulation protocol was introduced which included replacement of antithrombin 3, protein C and S, and early heparinization. A total of 317 liver transplants were completed during the study period, with a median age of 31.7 months. In E1, 22% of grafts were cadaveric in situ split grafts, while the second and third eras used split grafts in 59.0% and 64.9% of cases, respectively. HAT occurred in 9.5% in the first era, 11.5% (P=.661) in the second, and dropped to 1.8% in the third era (P=.043). A routine anticoagulation protocol has significantly reduced the incidence of HAT post-liver transplantation in children in a predominantly cadaveric in situ split liver transplant program.

Keywords: anticoagulation protocol; hepatic artery thrombosis; liver transplantation; microsurgery; pediatric; split liver graft.