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Khalil A, Quaglia A, Gélat P, Saffari N, Rashidi H, Davidson B. New Developments and Challenges in Liver Transplantation. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5586. [PMID: 37685652 PMCID: PMC10488676 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12175586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is increasing in incidence and is the third most common cause of premature death in the United Kingdom and fourth in the United States. Liver disease accounts for 2 million deaths globally each year. Three-quarters of patients with liver disease are diagnosed at a late stage, with liver transplantation as the only definitive treatment. Thomas E. Starzl performed the first human liver transplant 60 years ago. It has since become an established treatment for end-stage liver disease, both acute and chronic, including metabolic diseases and primary and, at present piloting, secondary liver cancer. Advances in surgical and anaesthetic techniques, refined indications and contra-indications to transplantation, improved donor selection, immunosuppression and prognostic scoring have allowed the outcomes of liver transplantation to improve year on year. However, there are many limitations to liver transplantation. This review describes the milestones that have occurred in the development of liver transplantation, the current limitations and the ongoing research aimed at overcoming these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Khalil
- Liver Unit, Wellington Hospital, London NW8 9TA, UK
- Centre for Surgical Innovation, Organ Regeneration and Transplantation, University College London, London NW3 2PS, UK
- Clinical Service of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Alberto Quaglia
- Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Pierre Gélat
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PS, UK
| | - Nader Saffari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Hassan Rashidi
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK;
| | - Brian Davidson
- Liver Unit, Wellington Hospital, London NW8 9TA, UK
- Centre for Surgical Innovation, Organ Regeneration and Transplantation, University College London, London NW3 2PS, UK
- Clinical Service of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, UK
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Zhou GP, Qu W, Zeng ZG, Sun LY, Liu Y, Wei L, Zhu ZJ. Successful Simultaneous Subtotal Splenectomy During Left Lobe Auxiliary Liver Transplantation for Portal Inflow Modulation and Severe Hypersplenism Correction: A Case Report. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 8:818825. [PMID: 35174187 PMCID: PMC8842677 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.818825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation with small partial liver grafts often requires intraoperative portal inflow modulation to prevent portal hyperperfusion and subsequent small-for-size syndrome (SFSS). However, there are concerns about the specific morbidity of these modulation techniques. This study aims to lower post-perfusion portal venous pressure and correct severe hypersplenism in a patient with end-stage liver cirrhosis by simultaneous subtotal splenectomy during auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT). A 29-year-old man was diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis and severe portal hypertension suffered recurrent acute variceal bleeding, severe thrombocytopenia, and massive ascites before admission to our hospital. After the recipient's left liver was resected, we performed APOLT using his 51-year-old father's left lobe graft with a graft-to-recipient weight ratio of 0.55%. Intraoperatively, simultaneous subtotal splenectomy was performed to lower graft post-perfusion portal vein pressure below 15 mmHg and correct severe hypersplenism-related pancytopenia. The recipient's postoperative hospital course was uneventful with no occurrence of SFSS and procedure-related complications. Platelet and leukocyte counts remained in the normal ranges postoperatively. The living donor was discharged 6 days after the operation and recovered well-with no complications. After a follow-up period of 35.3 months, both the recipient and donor live with good liver function and overall condition. This is the first case report of simultaneous subtotal splenectomy during APOLT using small-for-size living-donated left liver lobes, which is demonstrated to be a viable procedure for modulating portal inflow and correcting severe hypersplenism in selected adult patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis. APOLT using a small-for-size liver graft may be a safe and feasible treatment option for selected adult patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Peng Zhou
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Clinical Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Qu
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Clinical Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Gui Zeng
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Clinical Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Ying Sun
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Clinical Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Critical Liver Diseases, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Clinical Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Critical Liver Diseases, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Wei
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Clinical Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Zhu
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Clinical Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Azoulay D, Feray C, Lim C, Salloum C, Conticchio M, Cherqui D, Sa Cunha A, Adam R, Vibert E, Samuel D, Allard MA, Golse N. A systematic review of auxiliary liver transplantation of small for size grafts in patients with chronic liver disease. JHEP Rep 2022; 4:100447. [PMID: 35310820 PMCID: PMC8927838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims The shortage of liver grafts continues to worsen. Because the expanded use of small-for-size grafts (SFSGs) would substantially alleviate this shortage, we aimed to analyse the available knowledge on auxiliary liver transplantation (ALT) with SFSGs in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) to identify opportunities to develop ALT with SFSGs in patients with CLD. Methods This is a systematic review on ALT using SFSGs in patients with CLD. The review was completed by updates obtained from the authors of the retained reports. Results Heterotopic ALT was performed in 26 cases between 1980 and 2017, none for SFGS stricto sensu, and auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) in 27 cases (from 1999 to 2021), all for SFSG. In APOLT cases, partial native liver resection was performed in most of cases, whereas the second-stage remnant native liver hepatectomy was performed in 9 cases only. The median graft-to-body weight ratio was 0.55, requiring perioperative or intraoperative portal modulation in 16 cases. At least 1 complication occurred in 24 patients following the transplant procedure (morbidity rate, 89%). Four patients (4/27, 15%) died after the APOLT procedure. At the long term, 19 (70%) patients were alive and well at 13 months to 24 years (median, 4.5 years) including 18 with the APOLT graft in place and 1 following retransplantation. Conclusions Despite high postoperative morbidity, and highly reported technical variability, the APOLT technique is a promising technique to use SFSGs in patients with CLD, achieving satisfactory long-term results. The results need to be confirmed on a larger scale, and a standardised technique could lead to even better results. Lay summary At the cost of a high postoperative morbidity, the long-term results of APOLT for small-for-size grafts are good. Standardisation of the procedure and of portal modulation remain needed. Using a small-for-size graft is a risk factor of small-for-size syndrome. Auxiliary liver transplantation can be orthotopic or heterotopic. In auxiliary transplantation, the remnant native liver prevents small-for-size syndrome. Transplantation with a small-for-size graft requires individually tailored portal modulation. Auxiliary liver transplantation might substantially increase the number of available grafts.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To survey the available literature regarding the use of auxiliary liver transplantation (ALT) in the setting of cirrhosis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND ALT is a type of LT procedure in which part of the cirrhotic liver is resected and part of the liver graft is transplanted. The cirrhotic liver left in situ acts as an auxiliary liver until the graft has reached sufficient volume. Recently, a two-stage concept named RAPID (Resection And Partial LIver segment 2/3 transplantation with Delayed total hepatectomy) was developed, which combines hypertrophy of the small graft followed by delayed removal of the native liver. METHODS A scoping review of the literature on ALT for cirrhosis was performed, focusing on the historical background of RAPID and the status of RAPID for this indication. The new comprehensive nomenclature for hepatectomy ("New World" terminology) was used in this review. RESULTS A total of 72 cirrhotic patients underwent ALT [heterotopic (n = 34), orthotopic (APOLT, n = 34 including 5 followed by resection of the native liver at the second stage) and RAPID (n = 4)]. Among the 9 two-stage LTs (APOLT, n = 5; RAPID, n = 4), portal blood flow modulation was performed in 6 patients by deportalization of the native liver (n = 4), portosystemic shunt creation (n = 1), splenic artery ligation (n = 3) or splenectomy (n = 1). The delay between the first and second stages ranged from 18 to 90 days. This procedure led to an increase in the graft-to-recipient weight ratio between 33% and 156%. Eight patients were alive at the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Two-stage LT and, more recently, the RAPID procedure are viable options for increasing the number of transplantations for cirrhotic patients by using small grafts.
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Line PD, Nadalin S, Balci D. Auxiliary two-staged partial resection liver transplantation. BMC Surg 2021; 21:268. [PMID: 34049531 PMCID: PMC8161623 DOI: 10.1186/s12893-021-01265-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A case report of two patients who underwent auxiliary liver transplantation and two staged hepatectomy was recently published in BMC Surgery. The surgical technique utilised is described as novel but has been published previously also in the setting of chronic liver disease. A new name for this surgical approach therefore seems redundant. The importance of careful hemodynamic monitoring of pressure and flow in the portal vein and artery of the auxiliary graft as well as optimizing venous outflow is paramount to ensure graft regeneration and avoid small for size syndrome. The relevant surgical considerations to ensure optimal safety has also been reported in previous literature. This brief letter to the editor of BMC Surgery gives an overview that put the article content in context with published literature on this transplant surgical technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pål-Dag Line
- Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen, Postboks 4950, 0424, Oslo, Norway. .,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Silvio Nadalin
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Deniz Balci
- Department of Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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