Reconstructing Middle Hepatic Vein Tributaries in Right-Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation

AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of our technique and policy in reconstructing middle hepatic vein (MHV) tributaries of patients undergoing right-lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2010, 186 adult patients underwent right-lobe LDLT without the MHV. Patients were divided into two groups: group A (n = 71) and group B (n = 115) without or with the MHV tributaries reconstruction. We evaluated the serum liver function markers after transplantation and monitored vascular flow in the graft and interpositional vein by Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: The cumulative 1-, 3-, 5-year graft and patient survival rates were not significant between group A and group B (p = 0.287 and p = 0.258). Biliary complications appeared to be more frequent in group A than in group B (16.9 vs. 5.2%, p = 0.009). Liver function impairment was found in patients without MHV reconstruction and those with occluded interpositional vessels early after transplantation. The cumulative 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month patency rate of the interpositional veins was 81.51, 79.60, 74.69 and 72.68%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The reconstruction technique based on our policy ensures excellent outflow drainage and favorable recipient outcome, while better criteria for MHV reconstruction should be established.