【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 l iving donor l iver transplantation using cryopreserved il iac vein for middle hepatic vein reconstruction. Methods Between July 2006 and June 2009, right l iver transplantation without middle hepatic vein was performed in 37 cases of 85 patients undergoing l iving donor l iver transplantation; of 37 cases, 30 received middle hepatic vein reconstruction using cryopreserved il iac vein. There were 27 males and 3 females, aged from 10 to 57 years (median, 44 years). Thirty cases included 11 hepatocellular carcinoma, 10 hepatic cirrhosis, 2 Wilson’ sdisease, 1 cholangiocarcinoma, 1 hepatoblastoma, 1 congenital hepatic fibrosis, 1 chronic severe hepatitis, and 1 congenital bil iary atresia. Il iac veins harvested from donors were put into 0-4℃ mixed antibiotics sal ine and transported to the operating room. The il iac veins were trimmed, placed into sterile bags (containing RMPI 1640 + 20% DMSO + 10% calf protein solution) and frozen at —70 . In l iving donor l iver transplantation process, the veins were melt and used for middle hepatic vein reconstruction. After operation, the patency of veins was monitored by regular Doppler ultrasound examination or enhanced CT for 3 months. Results In 30 patients, 30 il iac veins were used. The average cryopreserve time was 14 days (range, 3-44 days). Anastomosis were all successful; after cryopreservation, the blood vessels texture and elasticity were fit for surgery. No easily tearing or severe suture bleeding was observed. In 30 patients, 6 had segment V veins reconstruction; 3 had segment VIII; and 21 had both segments V and VIII. The patency rate of reconstructed vessels was 93% at 1 week, 90% at 2 weeks, 90% at 1 month, and 67% at 3 months. No serious compl ication was observed in donors. The prognosis was good with no small-for-size syndrome. Conclusion Cryopreserved il iac vein is an ideal material for the right hepatic l iving donor l iver transplantation in the reconstruction of middle hepatic vein.