【Abstract】Objective To study the anatomy of the hepatic arteries and imitate the way to deal with the hepatic arteries in the living liver transplantation of the left lateral lobe.Methods Thirty normal adult livers were anatomyzed and 30 casting models of livers were observed. The lengths, diameters and distributaries of the hepatic arteries were described.Results The blood supply of the left lateral region came from proper hepatic artery, left hepatic artery and middle hepatic artery. The aberrant arteries included left inferior phrenic artery, left gastric artery and right gastric artery. They branched to supply the upper segment and the inferior segment.Conclusion There are five types of hepatic arteries to supply the left liver lobe. The anatomy of hepatic arteries should be studied and a reasonable approach to gain a liver graft should be designed before transplantation. The hepatic arteries should be dealt with so as to anastomose with recipient hepatic arteries.
Objective To summarize the experience of the prevention of early arterial compl ications after hepatic artery (HA) reconstruction in adult-to-adult l iving donor l iver transplantation (A-A LDLT). Methods Between January 2002and March 2008, 127 patients underwent A-A LDLT. Of the 131 donors (127 cases of right lobe graft, 4 cases of left lobe graft), there were 69 males and 62 females with a mean age of 36.2 years (range, 19-65 years); in 127 recipients, there were 109 males and 18 females with a mean age of 41.9 years (range, 18-64 years). All patients underwent microsurgical reconstruction of HA between grafts and recipients. The artery of graft was anastomosed to the right HA in 62 cases, to the proper HA in 34 cases, to the left HA in 7 cases, to the common HA in 6 cases, and aberrant right HA rising from superior mesenteric artery in 8 cases. Interposition bypass using great saphenous vein (GSV) was performed between the donor right HA and recipient common HA in 5 cases. Bypass was performed between the donor right HA and recipient abdominal aorta using GSV in 2 cases, or using cryopreserved cadaveric il iac vessels in 3 cases. Results Of these 127 cases, hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in 2 recipients (1.6%) at 1 day and 7 days following A-A LDLT, which were successfully revascularized with GSV between right HA of donor and abdominal aorta of recipient, HAT in 1 patient occurred on the 46th postoperative day with no symptom. No other arterial compl ication such as HA stenosis and aneurysm occurred in recipients. All patients were followed up 9-67 months. At 1, 2, and 3 years, actual survival rateswere 82.2%, 64.7%, and 59.2%. No death was related to HA compl ication in peri-operative period. Conclusion The anatomic structure and variation of HA, the pathological changes, as well as surgical technique in HA reconstruction, have direct impact on the risk of postoperative compl ications of HA reconstruction.
Objective To validate the mechanism of effect of hepatic artery ischemia on biliary fibrosis after liver transplantation and the prevention method. Methods Eighteen male dogs were established into the concise auto orthotopic liver transplantation models and assigned into three groups randomly: hepatic artery ischemia (HAI) group, TBB group (transferred the blood by a bridge duct ) and control group, each group contained 6 dogs. After opening portal vein, the samples were cut from liver in each group at the time of 6 h, 3 d and 14 d. The pathological modifications of intrahepatic bile ducts were observed and expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were detected in the three times. Expressions of Smad3 and phosphate-Smad3 as well as mRNA of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in intrahepatic bile ducts were detected 14 d after opening portal vein.Results Compared with control group, the collagen deposition and lumens stenosis in biliary vessel wall were more obviously in HAI group. In TBB group, the pathological modifications were slighter compared with HAI group. The positive cell index of TGF-β1 reached peak on day 3 after opening portal vein, then decreased in TBB group, and which in HAI group kept increase and was significantly higher than that in TBB group （Plt;0.05）. The expression level of phosphate-Smad3 and transcriptional level of α-SMA mRNA were 1.04±0.13 and 1.12±0.55 in TBB group on day 14 after opening portal vein, which were significantly higher than those in control group (0.59±0.09 and 0.46±0.18) and lower than those in HAI group (1.82±0.18 and 1.86±0.73), the diversities among three groups were significant (Plt;0.05). There was not significant difference of expression of Smads among three groups (Pgt;0.05). Conclusions Hepatic artery ischemia could increase the deposition of collagen fibers and the transdifferentiation of myofibroblast in bile duct and result in the biliary fibrosis by activating the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. The bridging bypass device could lessen the biliary fibrosis caused by hepatic artery ischemia by inhibiting the activation of TGF-β1/Smads signal transduction passageway.
Objective To establish and modify a rat model of arterialized small-for-size orthotopic liver transplantation and investigate the histopathologic changes of the grafts after transplantation. Methods Modified two-cuff technique was applied to establish a rat model of 40% small-for-size orthotopic liver transplantation with a modified microvascular “sleeve” anastomosis between the celiac trunk of donors and the stump of right kidney artery of recipients. Seven days survival rate was observed, main indices of liver function, histopathologic changes of the grafts were detected on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 7th day after transplantation, respectively. Results The successful rate of operation was 93.3%. Seven days survival rate was 60.0%. The mean time of nonhepatic time was (12.0±2.5) min. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TB) began to elevate on the first day and peaked on the second day after operation. Histological findings indicated that hepatic sinusoidal and central vein dilation, monocytes infiltration in partial area were found on the 1st day after operation, more diploid and polyploid hepatocytes could be observed on the 4th day after operation. Conclusion The model is easily available and highly reproducible, and the stability of the model is improved by modifying the technique. The histological changes of the grafts are mainly caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Objective To investigate the effects of different reperfusion sequence on hepatic warm ischemia-reperfusion injury and its related mechanisms. Methods Ninety-six healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups by using random digits method (n=16, each)： Sham operation group, only shammed operation for negative control; the other 5 groups were all experimental groups, which were divided according to different reperfusion sequences of portal vein and hepatic artery: reperfusion first through the portal vein for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, reperfusion first through the portal vein for 2 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, reperfusion first through the hepatic artery for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, reperfusion first through the hepatic artery for 2 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, simultaneous reperfusion through the portal vein and hepatic artery group. Each group was further randomly divided into two subgroups (n=8, each) for sample collection at 2, 4 hours after reperfusion respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathion (GSH) in hepatic tissue were detected respectively. HE staining of histopathologic slides was used to observe the morphological changes of hepatic tissue. TUNEL method was used to assess the apoptosis index (AI) of hepatocytes. Results The liver of rat was approximately normal in the sham operation group with lower levels of ALT, AST, MDA and AI, and higher levels of SOD and GSH as compared with all the experimental groups (P＜0.01). Less hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury was found in reperfusion first through the portal vein for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group, whose ALT, AST, MDA and AI levels were significantly lower than those of the other experimental groups (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), and its SOD and GSH levels were higher than those of the other experimental groups (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). HE staining also showed milder hepatic injury in reperfusion first through the portal vein for 1 min with subsequent full reperfusion group as compared with the other experimental groups. Conclusion Hepatic reperfusion first through portal vein for short time with subsequent full reperfusion could depress the synthesis of free oxygen radicals and suppress apoptosis of hepatocytes, thus relieving hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Objective To investigate the significance of hepatic arterial reconstruction on the model of 40% small-for-size orthotopic liver transplantation in rats. Methods Modified two-cuff technique was applied to establish a rat model of 40% orthotopic liver transplantation. A total of 240 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: reconstructive artery group and non-reconstructive artery group. One week survival rate was observed. Main indexes of liver function, histology and the expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) of liver graft （by immunohistochemical method） were detected on day 1, 2, 4 and 7 after transplantation, respectively. Results One week survival rates of reconstructive artery group and non-reconstructive artery group were 65.0% (13/20) and 50.0% (10/20) respectively (Pgt;0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TB) began to elevate from day 1 and peaked on day 2 after surgery in two groups. ALT in non-reconstructive artery group on day 2 and 4 were significantly higher than that in reconstructive artery group (P＜0.05). TB in non-reconstructive artery group on day 2 and 7 were significantly higher than that in reconstructive artery group (P＜0.05). Histological findings indicated that more diploid and polyploid hepatocytes and more gently dilation of central veins and hepatic sinusoids could be seen postoperatively in reconstructive artery group. The expression of PCNA of liver graft peaked on day 2 after surgery. The expression of PCNA of reconstructive artery group was higher on day 1 (P＜0.01) and lower on day 7 than that of non-reconstructive artery group after operation (P＜0.05). Conclusions Arterial reconstruction can improve liver function of liver grafts after small-for-size orthotopic liver transplantation, alleviate the histological changes and promote the regeneration of liver grafts quickly.
Objective To explore the methods of hepatic artery reconst ruction with iliac arterial interpositiongraf t in orthotopic liver t ransplantation (OL T) and influential factor of relevant complications postoperatively.Methods Analyzed ret rospectively 8 OL T , the hepatic artery reconst ruction with arterial inflow based on recipientinf rarenal aorta using donor iliac artery graf t tunneled through the t ransverse mesocolon and pancreas. Results Thetime required for hepatic artery reconst ruction with iliac arterial interposition graf t was 52 - 126 minutes. Amongthe 8 patient s , 2 patient s developed postoperative bililary t ract complications , 1 with biliary fistula , 1 with int rahepatic biloma , the others were recovered smoothly and liver function returned to normal about one week af ter livert ransplantation. No complications of hepatic artery were observed. Conclusion Iliac arterial interpositional graft is aneffective and reliable method of revascularization in liver transplantation when the use of hepatic artery is not possible.
Objective To investigate the relation between artery location for anastomosis and recipient’s hepatic arterial anatomic variation or pathological abnormity in adult liver transplantation. Methods From March 2004 to July 2006, 80 cases of adult orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) were performed in this hospital. Preoperative magnetic resonance angiography combined with operative artery dissection were performed to recognize and classify the hepatic arterial variation or pathological abnormity, then the arterial anastomotic location and stoma diameter were recorded. The location and diameter of anastomosis were compared between variation group and non-variation group. Results The recipient’s hepatic arterial variation rate was 11.3%(9/80), 8/9 of variable artery were right hepatic arteries which arose from gastroduodenal artery (GDA), common hepatic artery (CHA), celiac artery or superior mesenteric artery. The locations for anastomosis were the branch patches of CHA (7/9) and GDA (2/9). The pathological abnormities comprised of hepatic arterial intimal dissection (1 case) and hepatic arterial stenosis (1 case), the corresponding anastomotic location was the end of CHA in former case and anterior wall of suprarenal aorta in latter case. The proportion of anastomotic locations differed statistically between variation group and non-variation group (χ2=18.679, P＜0.01). The anastomotic diameter of CHA branch patch in variation group had no statistic difference compared with branch patch of CHA or proper hepatic artery (PHA) in non-variation group (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion The recipient’s hepatic arterial variation influences the selection of locations for anastomosis, the branch patch of CHA is the preferred location. The anastomotic stoma diameter of PHA branch patch in non-variation group obtains a similar size of CHA branch patch in variation group, the PHA branch patch can be used as a common location when arterial variations are absent.
Objective To explore the methods of hepatic artery reconstruction in orthotopic liver transplantation （LT） and prevention of relevant complications postoperatively. Methods A retrospective analysis was made for 31 cases orthotopic LT. Results The variations of hepatic arteries, which did not exist in the recipients, were found in 2 living donors. In 1 case, the accessory left hepatic artery arose from the left gastric artery. The ends of accessory left hepatic artery and left hepatic artery were made into one end through angioplasty on the back table. An interposition graft of donor great saphenous vein was used in the arterial reconstruction. In the other cases, the accessory right hepatic artery originating from gastroduodenal artery and the right hepatic artery were anastomosed to the branches of the hepatic artery of the recipient separately. In 1 patient receiving dual graft LT, the arteries of the grafts were nastomosed to the branches of the hepatic artery of the recipient separately. The diameters of hepatic arteries were less than 3 mm in 6 cases and more than 5 mm in 8 cases, the others were 3 to 5 mm. Donor iliac arterial graft was used for interposition between graft hepatic artery and recipient abdominal aorta in 1 case. Microsurgical vascular techniques was utilized in the reconstruction of hepatic artery. The time for an arterial reconstruction was 23-70 min 〔（31.46±9.07） min〕. The patients were followed up for 2-7 months. Hepatic artery stenosis was detected in 1 case on 32 d after LT, and no other arterial complications were found. Conclusion To attach importance to factors contributing to hepatic artery complications, the microsurgical technique applied in the reconstruction of the hepatic artery and appropriate anticoagulation can help to prevent the hepatic artery complications in LT.
Objective To investigate the risk factors, prevention and therapy of hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation. Methods The literatures on the risk factors, prevention and therapy of hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation in recent years were collected and reviewed. Results The risk factors include factor Ⅴ Leiden, metabolic liver diseases of recipients, recipient sex, the use of Roux-en-Y biliary reconstructions, virus infection and so on. The measures of prevention and therapy include early diagnosis, detection of activated protein C resistance, postoperative anti-coagulation therapy, liver arteries reconstructions measures, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, continuous transcatheter arterial thrombolysis, liver retransplantation and so on. Conclusion The study of risk factors, prevention and therapy will promote the process of improving the prognosis of patients with liver transplantation.