Currently, there is an absence of a standardised protocol for the preoperative detection of hepatic steatosis (HS) in living liver donors. A steatotic liver graft jeopardises the outcome of the recipient with multiple potential complications. Vibration-controlled transient elastography (Fibroscan®) provides a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), which we have utilised in our assessment of HS in living liver donors. This approach offers a promising avenue for the advancement of preoperative evaluation protocols.

In the period spanning from October 2022 to July 2024, a cohort of 67 liver donors were subjected to preoperative vibration-controlled transient elastography (Fibroscan®) and either preoperative or intraoperative liver biopsy. HS was defined as a fat content exceeding 10%. CAP readings were juxtaposed with liver biopsy results for the diagnosis of HS. Donors were categorised into three categories with HS <5%, 5-10% and those with HS >10% were rejected as per our institutional protocol. This facilitated a comprehensive evaluation of HS in the context of living donor liver transplantation.

CAP was very accurate in detecting HS, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.99 (P < 0.05). Statistical analysis determined that a CAP cutoff value of 266 dB/m provides a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.4% for predicting HS >10%. Corresponding positive predictive value (PPV) is 85.71%, while the negative predictive value is 100%. Univariate analysis determined body mass index (BMI), age and serum triglyceride levels were associated with CAP; however, multivariate linear regression revealed an association with only BMI (P < 0.001) and age (P < 0.002). When a lower fat threshold of 5% was considered to define HS with the same cut off of CAP, the sensitivity reduced to 66.7% and specificity was 98.3% The recipients of donors with HS of 5%-10% did not show any negative outcomes.

CAP demonstrates significant potential as a predictive tool for hepatic steatosis (HS) in living liver donors. Notably, BMI and age have been identified as independent factors associated with CAP values.

Solitary hepatocellular carcinoma measuring ≤3 cm represents approximately 30% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases, yet treatment guidelines lack robust evidence. This study compares oncologic outcomes after ablation, liver resection, and liver transplantation for solitary, small hepatocellular carcinoma.

We systematically searched databases up to 7 February 2022, for studies including adults with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm treated by any ablation, liver resection, or liver transplantation. We excluded non-hepatocellular carcinoma cancers, recurrent/metastatic diseases, and alternative therapies. A frequentist network meta-analysis assessed 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival using only adjusted effect estimates while accounting for bias risk.

We identified 80 studies (4 randomized controlled trials, 72 retrospectives, and 4 prospective cohorts) with 28,211 patients. In the network meta-analysis for 5-year overall survival (26 studies), liver transplantation was associated with the lowest mortality hazard (hazard ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.73, referenced to liver resection), followed by liver resection (reference), whereas ablation had the greatest mortality hazard (hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-1.49, referenced to liver resection). For 5-year recurrence-free survival (19 studies), liver transplantation had the best outcome (hazard ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.63, referenced to liver transplantation), followed by liver resection (reference), with ablation showing the least favorable outcome (hazard ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-1.93, referenced to liver resection).

This network meta-analysis provides the evidence for comparing treatment modality outcomes for solitary, small (≤3 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma. LT emerges as the superior choice for achieving a better 5-year OS, followed by liver resection, then ablation. When feasible to preserve liver function, liver resection can be prioritized. Ablation with close surveillance should be reserved for individuals unfit for surgery.

Over the past six decades, liver transplantation (LT) has evolved from an experimental procedure into a standardized and life-saving intervention, reshaping the landscape of organ transplantation. Driven by pioneering breakthroughs, technological advancements, and a deepened understanding of immunology, LT has seen remarkable progress. Some of the most notable breakthroughs in the field include advances in immunosuppression, a revised model for end-stage liver disease, and artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated imaging modalities serving diagnostic and therapeutic roles in LT, paired with ever-evolving technological advances. Additionally, the refinement of transplantation procedures, resulting in the introduction of alternative transplantation methods, such as living donor LT, split LT, and the use of marginal grafts, has addressed the challenge of organ shortage. Moreover, precision medicine, guiding personalized immunosuppressive strategies, has significantly improved patient and graft survival rates while addressing emergent issues, such as short-term complications and early allograft dysfunction, leading to a more refined strategy and enhanced post-operative recovery. Looking ahead, ongoing research explores regenerative medicine, diagnostic tools, and AI to optimize organ allocation and post-transplantation car. In summary, the past six decades have marked a transformative journey in LT with a commitment to advancing science, medicine, and patient-centered care, offering hope and extending life to individuals worldwide.

In countries with low rates of deceased donor solid organ transplantations, live-donor liver transplantation is the preferred definitive treatment for children and adults with end-stage liver disease. However, it is known that a remarkable number of potential living liver donors are rejected due to ABO incompatibility, suboptimal liver mass, or anatomical features. Paired exchange liver transplantation (PELT) practice emerged to overcome these obstacles. Herein, we present the results of our single-center experience with PELT and compare them with previously reported data.

Patients who underwent PELT between January 2015 and December 2022 constituted the target population. The collected recipient data included demographic parameters, the model for end-stage liver disease score, graft-recipient weight ratio, indication for LT and paired exchange, body-mass index, duration of hospital stay, duration of intensive care unit stay, postoperative complications and inpatient mortality. Donor data, including demographic characteristics, body mass index, type of liver graft (right lobe or left lateral segment), graft weight (g), type of portal vein anatomy (Type 1, 2, or 3), type of biliary anatomy (Type 1, 2, 3a, 3b), duration of hospital stay, complications and mortality were retrieved.

Among 18 recipients, 14 (78%) were male, and 4 (22%) were female. The mean recipient age was 50.7 [2-66], while the mean donor age was 29.3 [18-40]. The mean follow-up period was 31.9 [12-71] months. The 1-year patient and graft survivals were calculated as 83.3% and 88.9%.

The PELT can be utterly feasible at transplant centers with remarkable LDLT experience.

Background: The most important concern regarding living donor liver transplantation is the safety of living liver donors, of which anesthesia management is an important part. Sugammadex, which has recently been used frequently for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade, is known to cause adverse effects on the coagulation profile. This study seeks to assess the impact of neostigmine and sugammadex on coagulation parameters in living liver donors following hepatectomy. Methods: We compared the demographic, clinical, and coagulation parameters of 209 living liver donors who received sugammadex (2 mg/kg) for neuromuscular blockade reversal during donor hepatectomy procedures from January 2018 to July 2022, with 209 patients who received neostigmine (50 g/kg) for the same purpose during the same timeframe. We compared the following parameters: age, gender, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), international normalized ratio (INR), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count, ICU stay, hospital stay, and relaparotomy for bleeding and other causes. Results: Demographic data and preoperative biochemical values were similar in both groups. PT (p = 0.004) and aPTT (p < 0.001) values were significantly longer in the postoperative period in both groups; the difference between preoperative and postoperative PT (p = 0.009) and aPTT (p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the sugammadex group. However, neither group showed any elongation beyond the reference range. The sugammadex group had an elevated postoperative platelet count (p = 0.040). The duration of patients' stay in the ICU was significantly shorter in the sugammadex group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The prolonged aPTT and PT associated with sugammadex did not lead to any postoperative bleeding complications. The sugammadex group significantly reduced the duration of ICU stays, while the hospital stays remained comparable. Further multicentric prospective randomized studies should support our study's findings, which demonstrate the safe use of low-dose sugammadex.

A strategic vision toward global convergence in transplantation must encourage and remove barriers to living organ donation and transplantation. Here, we discuss deliberations of a working group of the 2023 Santander Summit charged with formulating recommendations for the safe expansion of living donor kidney transplantation and living donor liver transplantation worldwide. Living donor kidney transplantation has grown to be the preferred treatment for advanced kidney failure. Living donor liver transplantation emerged more recently as a strategy to reduce waitlist mortality, with adoption influenced by cultural factors, regional policies, clinical team experience, and the maturity of regional deceased donor transplant systems. Barriers to living donor transplantation span domains of education, infrastructure, risk assessment/risk communication, and financial burden to donors. Paired donor exchange is a growing option for overcoming incompatibilities to transplantation but is variably used across and within countries. Effectively expanding access to living donor transplantation requires multifaceted strategies, including improved education and outreach, and measures to enhance efficiency, transparency, and shared decision making in donor candidate evaluation. Efforts toward global dissemination and vigilant oversight of best practices and international standards for the assessment, informed consent, approval, and monitoring of living donors are needed. Fostering greater participation in paired exchange requires eliminating disincentives and logistical obstacles for transplant programs and patients, and establishing an ethical and legal framework grounded in World Health Organization Guiding Principles. Sharing of best practices from successful countries and programs to jurisdictions with emerging practices is vital to safely expand the practice of living donation worldwide and bring the field together globally.

Partial hepatectomy (PH) remains associated with complication rates around 30-50%. Delayed return of gastrointestinal function (DRGF) has been reported in 10-20%. This study aimed to assess DRGF predictors after PH.

This study included all consecutive adult patients undergoing PH between January 01, 2010, and December 12, 2019. DRGF was defined as the need for postoperative nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion. Patients leaving the operation room with a NGT were excluded. Independent DRGF predictors were identified with multivariable logistic binary regression.

A total of 501 patients were included. DRGF occurred in 82 patients (16%). Among DRGF patients, 17% (n = 14) needed a second NGT placement. DRGF incidences were similar before and after Enhanced Recovery after Surgery implementation in 2013 (16/78 = 20% vs. 66/423 = 16%, p = 0.305). A hundred-and-twelve patients (22%) underwent a minimally invasive approach and DRGF incidence was significantly lower in this group (5/112 = 4.5% vs. 77/389 = 19.8%, p < 0.001). DRGF was more frequent after major PH (55/238 = 23% vs. 27/263 = 10%, p < 0.001). DRGF occurred more often in patients with preoperative embolization (26/88 = 30% vs. 55/407 = 14%, p < 0.001), biliary anastomosis (20/48 = 42% vs. 61/450 = 14%, p < 0.001), and extrahepatic resection (37/108 = 34% vs. 45/393 = 11%, p < 0.001). Patients with DRGF had longer median operation duration (374 vs. 263 min, p < 0.001), more biliary leaks/bilomas (27/82 = 33% vs. 33/419 = 7.9%, p < 0.001), and higher median blood loss (1,088 vs. 701 mL, p < 0.001). DRGF patients developed more pneumonia (14/22 = 64% vs. 8/22 = 36%, p < 0.001) and had longer median length of stay (19 vs. 8 days, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, operation duration (OR 1.005, 95% CI: 1.002-1.008, p < 0.001), major hepatectomy (OR 3.606, 95% CI: 1.931-6.732), and postoperative biloma/biliary leak (OR 6.419, 95% CI: 3.019-13.648, p < 0.001) were independently associated with DRGF occurrence.

Postoperative DRGF occurred in 16% of the patients and was associated with a longer length of stay. Surgery duration, major PH and postoperative biloma/biliary leak were found as independent predictors of DRGF.

Partial hepatectomy (PH) remains associated with complication rates around 30-50%. Delayed return of gastrointestinal function (DRGF) has been reported in 10-20%. This study aimed to assess DRGF predictors after PH.

This study included all consecutive adult patients undergoing PH between January 01, 2010, and December 12, 2019. DRGF was defined as the need for postoperative nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion. Patients leaving the operation room with a NGT were excluded. Independent DRGF predictors were identified with multivariable logistic binary regression.

A total of 501 patients were included. DRGF occurred in 82 patients (16%). Among DRGF patients, 17% (n = 14) needed a second NGT placement. DRGF incidences were similar before and after Enhanced Recovery after Surgery implementation in 2013 (16/78 = 20% vs. 66/423 = 16%, p = 0.305). A hundred-and-twelve patients (22%) underwent a minimally invasive approach and DRGF incidence was significantly lower in this group (5/112 = 4.5% vs. 77/389 = 19.8%, p < 0.001). DRGF was more frequent after major PH (55/238 = 23% vs. 27/263 = 10%, p < 0.001). DRGF occurred more often in patients with preoperative embolization (26/88 = 30% vs. 55/407 = 14%, p < 0.001), biliary anastomosis (20/48 = 42% vs. 61/450 = 14%, p < 0.001), and extrahepatic resection (37/108 = 34% vs. 45/393 = 11%, p < 0.001). Patients with DRGF had longer median operation duration (374 vs. 263 min, p < 0.001), more biliary leaks/bilomas (27/82 = 33% vs. 33/419 = 7.9%, p < 0.001), and higher median blood loss (1,088 vs. 701 mL, p < 0.001). DRGF patients developed more pneumonia (14/22 = 64% vs. 8/22 = 36%, p < 0.001) and had longer median length of stay (19 vs. 8 days, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, operation duration (OR 1.005, 95% CI: 1.002-1.008, p < 0.001), major hepatectomy (OR 3.606, 95% CI: 1.931-6.732), and postoperative biloma/biliary leak (OR 6.419, 95% CI: 3.019-13.648, p < 0.001) were independently associated with DRGF occurrence.

Postoperative DRGF occurred in 16% of the patients and was associated with a longer length of stay. Surgery duration, major PH and postoperative biloma/biliary leak were found as independent predictors of DRGF.

The right posterior segment graft can be selected in cases where neither the right nor left lobe graft satisfies the selection criteria for adult living donor liver transplant. However, vascular and biliary anatomy may cause technical difficulties in procurement of posterior segments in donors of living donor liver transplant and may require specific attention in vascular and biliary reconstruction in the recipient. In this study, we examined the feasibility of right posterior segment grafts in adult living donor liver transplants through donor safety and recipient outcomes and clarified the anatomic points of the surgical technique.

We retrospectively reviewed 296 cases of adult living donor liver transplants treated at Kumamoto University between August 2000 and March 2017.

Among 296 cases, graft types were right lobe (n = 162), left lobe (n = 119), and right posterior segments (n = 9). Among donors, no significant differences were shown in operative time, blood loss, or incidence of postoperative complications between early and late phases among the 3 groups. Four cases ofright posterior segment had >2 biliary duct stumps, and 2 cases had 2 portal vein stumps. Among recipients, median actual graft-to-recipient weight ratio was 0.82% (range, 0.52%-1.22%), with no factors, including graft type, significantly associated with graft survival. Hepatic artery thrombosis and rupture of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm occurred in 1 case as an early complication, and biliary anastomotic stricture occurred in 4 cases as a late complication.

The right posterior segment graft may be an effective alternative in living donor liver transplant when no eligible candidates for conventional grafts are available among families and relatives. Careful preoperative anatomic evaluations and simulations are important.

Liver transplantation is a highly complex and challenging field of clinical practice. Although it was originally developed in western countries, it has been further advanced in Asian countries through the use of living donor liver transplantation. This method of transplantation is the only available option in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region due to the lack of deceased organ donation. As a result of this clinical situation, there is a growing need for guidelines that are specific to the Asia-Pacific region. These guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations for evidence-based management throughout the entire process of liver transplantation, covering both deceased and living donor liver transplantation. In addition, the development of these guidelines has been a collaborative effort between medical professionals from various countries in the region. This has allowed for the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences, leading to a more comprehensive and effective set of guidelines.

This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the acceptability of donor remnant liver volume (RLV) to total liver volume (TLV) ratio (RLV/TLV) being <30% as safe in living donor liver transplantations (LDLTs).

Online databases were searched from January 2000 to June 2022. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects model.

One prospective and seven retrospective studies comprising 1935 patients (164 RLV/TLV <30% vs. 1771 RLV/TLV ≥30%) were included. Overall (OR = 1.82; 95% CI [1.24, 2.67]; p = .002) and minor (OR = 1.88; 95% CI [1.23, 2.88]; p = .004) morbidities were significantly lower in the RLV/TLV ≥30% group than in the RLV/TLV <30% group (OR = 1.82; 95% CI [1.24, 2.67]; p = .002). No significant differences were noted in the major morbidity, biliary complications, and hepatic dysfunction. Peak levels of bilirubin (SMD = .50; 95% CI [.07, .93]; p = .02) and international normalized ratio (SMD = .68; 95% CI [.04, 1.32]; p = .04) were significantly lower in the RLV/TLV ≥ 30% group than in the RLV/TLV <30% group. No significant differences were noted in the peak alanine transferase and aspartate transaminase levels and hospital stay.

Considering the safety of the donor as the top priority, the eligibility of a potential liver donor in LDLT whose RLV/TLV is expected to be <30% should not be accepted.

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are the primary modalities to assess donors' vessels before transplant surgery. Radiation and contrast medium are potentially harmful to donors.

To compare the image quality and visualization scores of hepatic arteries on CTA and balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) non-contrast-enhanced MRA (NC-MRA), and to evaluate if bSSFP NC-MRA can potentially be a substitute for CTA.

Prospective.

Fifty-six consecutive potential living-related liver donors (30.9 ± 8.4 years; 31 men).

1.5T; four bSSFP NC-MRA sequences: respiratory-triggered (Inhance inflow inversion recovery [IFIR]) and three breath-hold (BH); and CTA.

The artery-to-liver contrast (Ca-l) was quantified. Three radiologists independently assigned visualization scores using a four-point scale to potential origins, segments, and branches of the hepatic arteries, determined the anatomical variants based on Hiatt's classification, and assessed the image quality of NC-MRA sequences.

Fleiss' kappa to evaluate the readers' agreement. Repeat measured ANOVA or Friedman test to compare Ca-l of each NC-MRA. Friedman test to compare overall image quality and visualization scores; post hoc analysis using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Inhance IFIR Ca-l was significantly higher than all BH bSSFP Ca-l (0.56 [0.45-0.64] vs. 0.37 [0.29-0.47] to 0.41 [0.23-0.51]). Overall image quality score of BH bSSFP TI1200 was significantly higher than other NC-MRA (4 [4-4] vs. 4 [3 to 4-4]). The median visualization scores of almost all arteries on CTA were significantly higher than on NC-MRA (4 [3 to 4-4] vs. 1 [1-2] to 4 [4-4]). The median visualization scores were all 4 [4-4 ] on Inhance IFIR with >92.3% observed scores ≥3, except the segment 4 branch (3 [1-4], 53.6%). The identification rates of arterial variants were 92.9%-97% on Inhance IFIR.

Although CTA is superior to the NC-MRA, all NC-MRA depict the donor arterial anatomy well. Inhance IFIR can potentially be an alternative image modality for CTA to evaluate the arterial variants of living donors.

3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

The outcomes of dual graft living donor liver transplantation (DGLDLT) in high acuity patients remain underreported. The objective of this study was to report long-term outcomes from a single center in this select group of patients.

This was a retrospective review of patients who underwent DGLDLT between 2012 and 2017 (n = 10). High acuity patients were defined as patients with model for end stage liver disease (MELD) ≥30 or Child Pugh score ≥11. We looked at 90-day morbidity and mortality and 5-year overall survival (OS).

The median MELD score and Child Pugh score were 30 (26.7-35) and 11 (11-11.2). The median recipient weight was 105 (95.2-113.7) and ranged from 82 to 132 kg. Out of 10 patients, 4 (40%) required perioperative renal replacement therapy, and 8 (80%) required hospital admission for optimization. The estimated graft to recipient weight ratio (GRWR) with right lobe graft alone was <0.8 in all patients, between 0.75 and 0.65 in 5 (50%) patients, and <0.65 in 5 (50%) patients. The 90-day mortality was 3/10 (30%), and there were 3/10 (30%) deaths during long-term follow-up. Among 155 high acuity patients, the 1-year OS with standard LDLT, standard LDLT with GRWR <0.8, and DGLDLT was 82%, 76%, and 58%, respectively (P = 0.123). With a median follow-up of 40.6 (1.9-74.4) months, the 5-year OS for DGLDLT was 50%.

The use of DGLDLT in high acuity patients should be prudent and low GRWR grafts should be considered a viable alternative in selected patients.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) reduces liver transplant waitlist mortality and provides excellent long-term outcomes for persons with end stage liver disease. Yet, utilization of LDLT has been limited in the United States (US).

In October 2021, the American Society of Transplantation held a consensus conference to identify important barriers to broader expansion of LDLT in the US, including data gaps, and make recommendations for impactful and feasible mitigation strategies to overcome these barriers. Domains addressed encompassed the entirety of the LDLT process. Representation from international centers and living donor kidney transplantation were included for their perspective/experience in addition to members across disciplines within the US liver transplantation community. A modified Delphi approach was employed as the consensus methodology.

The predominant theme permeating discussion and polling results centered on culture; the beliefs and behaviors of a group of people perpetuated over time.

Creating a culture of support for LDLT in the US is key for expansion and includes engagement and education of stakeholders across the spectrum of the process of LDLT. A shift from awareness of LDLT to acknowledgement of benefit of LDLT is the primary goal. Propagation of the maxim "LDLT is the best option" is pivotal.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Several major transplantation centers have used composite multimodality evaluation for the preoperative evaluation of potential living liver donors. This approach can be time-consuming and, although rare, can cause complications. We aimed to demonstrate the clinical feasibility of our comprehensive preoperative MR protocol for the preoperative assessment of living liver donor candidates instead of composite multimodality evaluation.

Thirty-five consecutive living liver donor candidates underwent multiphasic liver CT and comprehensive donor protocol MR examinations for preoperative evaluation in a single large-volume liver transplantation (LT) center. Three blinded abdominal radiologists reviewed the CT and MR images for vascular and biliary variations. The strength of agreement between CT and MR angiography was assessed using the kappa index. The detection rate of biliary anatomical variations was calculated. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting significant steatosis (>5%) were calculated. The estimated total volume and right lobe volumes measured by MR volumetry were compared with the corresponding CT volumetry measurements using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Among the 35 patients, 26 underwent LT. The measurement of agreement showed a moderate to substantial agreement between CT and MR angiography interpretations (kappa values, 0.47-0.79; p < 0.001). Combining T2-weighted and T1-weighted MR cholangiography techniques detected all biliary anatomical variations in 9 of the 26 patients. MR-proton density fat fraction showed a sensitivity of 100% (3/3) and a specificity of 91.3% (21/23) for detecting pathologically determined steatosis (>5%). MR volumetry reached an excellent agreement with CT volumetry (reviewers 1 and 2: ICC, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.84-0.96).

Our one-stop comprehensive liver donor MR imaging protocol can provide complete information regarding hepatic vascular and biliary anatomies, hepatic parenchymal quality, and liver volume for living liver donor candidates and can replace composite multimodality evaluation.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an established treatment for advanced liver disease. Whether right lobe (RL) or left lobe (LL) LDLT provides the best outcomes for donors and recipients remains contentious.

MedLine, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Central were searched to identify studies comparing RL- and LL-LDLT and reporting donor and/or recipient outcomes. Effect sizes were pooled using random-effect meta-analysis. Meta-regressions were used to explore heterogeneity.

Sixty-seven studies were included. RL donors were more likely to experience major complications (relative risk [RR] = 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-2.05; I2 = 19%) than LL donors; however, no difference was observed in the risk of any biliary complication (RR = 1.41; 95% CI = 0.91-2.20; I2 = 59%), bile leaks (RR = 1.56; 95% CI = 0.97-2.51; I2 = 52%), biliary strictures (RR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.43-1.88; I2 = 27%), or postoperative death (RR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.25-1.05; I2 = 0%). Among recipients, the incidence of major complications (RR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.68-1.06; I2 = 21%), biliary complications (RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.91-1.33; I2 = 8%), and vascular complications (RR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.44-1.43; I2 = 0%) was similar. Although the rate of small for size syndrome (RR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.30-0.74; I2 = 0%) and postoperative deaths (RR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.44-0.87; I2 = 0%) was lower among RL-LDLT recipients, no differences were observed in long-term graft (hazard ratio = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.55-1.38; I2 = 74%) and overall survival (hazard ratio = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.60-1.22; I2 = 44%).

LL donors experience fewer complications than RL donors, and LL-LDLT recipients had similar outcomes to RL-LDLT recipients. These findings suggest that LL-LDLT offers the best outcomes for living donors and similar outcomes for recipients when measures are taken to prevent small for size syndrome.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Although body surface area (BSA)-based standard liver volume (SLV) formulae have been used for living donor liver transplantation and hepatic resection, hemi-liver volume (HLV) is needed more frequently. HLV can be assessed using right or left portal vein diameter (RPVD or LPVD). The aim of this study was to validate the reliability of using portal vein diameter ratio (PVDR) for assessing HLV in living liver donors.

This study included 92 living liver donors (59 males and 33 females) who underwent surgery between January 2020 and December 2020. Computed tomography (CT) images were used for measurements.

Mean age of donors was 35.5 ± 7.2 years. CT volumetry-measured total liver volume (TLV), right HLV, left HLV, and percentage of right HLV in TLV were 1,442.9 ± 314.2 mL, 931.5 ± 206.4 mL, 551.4 ± 126.5 mL, and 64.6% ± 3.6%, respectively. RPVD, LPVD, and main portal vein diameter were 12.2 ± 1.5 mm, 10.0 ± 1.3 mm, and 15.3 ± 1.7 mm, respectively (corresponding square values: 149.9 ± 36.9 mm², 101.5 ± 25.2 mm², and 237.2 ± 52.2 mm², respectively). The sum of RPVD² and LPVD² was 251.1 ± 56.9 mm². BSA-based SLV was 1,279.5 ± 188.7 mL (error rate: 9.1% ± 14.4%). SLV formula- and PVDR-based right HLV was 760.0 ± 130.7 mL (error rate: 16.2% ± 13.3%).

Combining BSA-based SLV and PVDR appears to be a simple method to predict right or left HLV in living donors or split liver transplantation.

When timely access to deceased-donor livers is not feasible, living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an attractive option for patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). This study's primary objective was to describe outcomes after LDLT among HRS recipients, and the secondary objective was to determine predictors of poor renal recovery after LDLT. This single-center, retrospective study included 2185 LDLT recipients divided into HRS (n = 126, 5.8%) and non-HRS (n = 2059, 94.2%) groups. The study outcomes were survival and post-LT renal recovery. The HRS group had a higher death rate than the non-HRS group (17.5% vs. 8.6%, p < 0.001). In the HRS group, post-LT renal recovery occurred in 69.0%, and the death rate was significantly lower in association with HRS recovery compared with non-recovery (5.7% vs. 43.6%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis indicated that post-LT sepsis (p < 0.001) and non-recovery of HRS (p < 0.001) were independent negative prognostic factors for survival. Diabetes mellitus (p = 0.01), pre-LT peak serum creatinine ≥3.2 mg/dl (p = 0.002), time interval from HRS diagnosis to LDLT ≥38 days (p = 0.01), and post-LT sepsis (p = 0.03) were important negative prognostic factors for renal recovery after LDLT. In conclusion, post-LT renal recovery was important for survival, and the interval from HRS to LDLT was significantly associated with post-LT renal recovery.

Few data are available on discharge criteria after living liver donation (LLD).

To identify the features for fit for discharge checklist after LLD to prevent unnecessary re-hospitalizations and to provide international expert recommendations.

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central.

Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and recommendations using the GRADE approach derived from an international expert panel. The critical outcomes included were complications rates and liver function (defined by elevated bilirubin and INR) (CRD42021260725).

Total 57/1710 studies were included in qualitative analysis and 28/57 on the final analysis. No randomized controlled trials were identified. The complications rate was reported in 20/28 studies and ranged from 7.8% to 71.2%. Post hepatectomy liver function was reported in 13 studies. The Quality of Evidence (QoE) was Low and Very-Low for complications rate and liver function test, respectively.

Monitoring and prevention of donor complications should be crucial in decision making of discharge. Pain and diet control, removal of all drains and catheters, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, and use routine imaging (CT scan or liver ultrasound) before discharge should be included as fit for discharge checklist (QoE; Low | GRADE of recommendation; Strong). Transient Impaired liver function (defined by elevated bilirubin and INR), a prognostic marker of outcome after liver resection, usually occurs after donor right hepatectomy and should be monitored. Improving trends for bilirubin and INR value should be observed by day 5 post hepatectomy and be included in the fit for discharge checklist. (QoE; Very-Low | GRADE; Strong).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Some people oppose abortion on the grounds that fetuses have full moral status and thus a right to not be killed. We argue that special obligations that hold between mother and fetus also hold between parents and their children. We argue that if these special obligations necessitate the sacrifice of bodily autonomy in the case of abortion, then they also necessitate the sacrifice of bodily autonomy in the case of organ donation. If we accept the argument that it is obligatory to override a woman's bodily autonomy for the sake of an unborn child's survival, we must continue to override the bodily autonomy of parents to ensure the survival of their living children, until the parent no longer has a special obligation to their child to the same degree as their special obligation to the fetus. And if the life of a child is truly more important than the bodily autonomy of its parents, as must be the case to force women to carry unwanted pregnancies to term, this should remain true until such a time that their children are no longer considered their responsibility. Thus, parity of reasoning suggests that policies compelling the gestation of a fetus should be accompanied by policies compelling organ donation.

Paired exchange liver transplantation is an evolving strategy to overcome ABO blood group incompatibility and other barriers such as inadequate graft-to-recipient weight ratio and low remnant liver volume in donors. However, for the transplant team to carry 4 major operations simultaneously is a Herculean effort. We analyzed our experience with liver paired exchange (LPE) program over the past 9 y.

This prospective study included 34 of 2340 (1.45%) living donor liver transplantations performed between May 2012 and April 2021. The reason for LPE was ABO incompatibility in all (n = 34) patients included in the study. After donor reassignment through 2-by-2 paired exchange with directed donors, the ABO matching status changed from A to A (n = 17) and B to B (n = 17), which made all matches ABO-identical. Recipients (R) and donors (D) of each swap pair were prospectively divided into R1/D1 and R2/D2 groups for comparative and survival analyses.

The recipients (n = 34) had a median age of 45.5 y (11-59 y), and 31 were men. LPEs were performed in 4 operating rooms running simultaneously by 2 independent surgical teams. Donor survival was 100%. Baseline clinical and perioperative parameters, postoperative complications, median intensive care unit/hospital stay, and early deaths were comparable (P > 0.1) between the R1 and R2 groups. The median follow-up period was 27 mo (1-108 mo). The 30-d and 1-y survivals were 88.2% (n = 30) and 85.3% (n = 29), respectively.

Our experience suggests that with careful attention to ethical and logistical issues, the LPE program can expand the living donor liver pool and facilitate a greater number of living donor liver transplantations.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a significant advancement for the treatment of children with end-stage liver disease given the shortage of deceased donors. The ultimate goal of pediatric LDLT is to achieve complete donor safety and zero recipient mortality. We conducted a retrospective, single-center assessment of the outcomes as well as the clinical factors that may influence graft and patient survival after primary LDLTs performed between 1994 and 2020. A Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analyses. The trends for independent prognostic factors were analyzed according to the following treatment eras: 1, 1994 to 2002; 2, 2003 to 2011; and 3, 2012 to 2020. Primary LDLTs were performed on 287 children during the study period. Biliary atresia (BA; 52%), acute liver failure (ALF; 26%), and monogenic liver disease (11%) were the leading indications. There were 45 graft losses (16%) and 27 patient deaths (7%) in this population during the study period. During era 1 (n = 81), the cumulative survival rates at 1 and 5 years after LDLT were 90.1% and 81.5% for patients and 86.4% and 77.8% for grafts, respectively. During era 2 (n = 113), the corresponding rates were 92.9% and 92% for patients and 89.4% and 86.7% for grafts, respectively. During era 3 (n = 93), the corresponding rates were 100% and 98.6% for patients and 98.9% and 95.4% for grafts, respectively. In the multivariate analyses, primary diagnosis ALF, bloodstream infection, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, and chronic rejection were found to be negative prognostic indicators for patient survival. Based on generalized care guidelines and center-oriented experiences, comprehensive advances in appropriate donor selection, refinement of surgical techniques, and meticulous medical management may eventually realize a zero-mortality rate in pediatric LDLT.

The outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) have improved, but actual 20-year survival data have rarely been presented.

Longitudinal follow-up data of 20-year LT survivors were retrospectively analyzed. The LT database of our institution was searched to identify patients who underwent primary LT from January 2000 to December 2001. The study cohort of 251 patients was divided into three groups 207 adults who underwent living donor LT (LDLT), 22 adults who underwent deceased donor LT (DDLT), and 22 pediatric patients who underwent LT.

Hepatitis B virus-associated liver cirrhosis and biliary atresia were the most common indications for adult and pediatric LT, respectively. Seven patients required retransplantation, including six who underwent DDLT and one who underwent LDLT. Twenty-two patients died within 3 months after LT and 69 died at later intervals. The overall survival rates at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20 years were 86.4%, 79.6%, 77.7%, 72.8%, and 62.6%, respectively, in the adult LDLT group; 86.4%, 72.7%, 72.7%, 72.7%, and 68.2%, respectively, in the adult DDLT group; and 86.4%, 86.4%, 81.8%, 81.8%, and 77.3%, respectively, in the pediatric LT group (P=0.545). Common immunosuppressive regimens at 20 years included tacrolimus monotherapy, tacrolimus-mycophenolate dual therapy, cyclosporine monotherapy, and mycophenolate monotherapy.

The present study is the first report of actual 20-year survival data from a Korean high-volume LT center. The graft and patient survival outcomes reflected the early experiences of LT in our institution, with long-term outcomes being similar regardless of graft type and patient age.

Following curative liver resection (LR), resectable tumor recurrence in patients with preserved liver function leads to deciding between a repeat LR and a salvage liver transplantation (LT), if a donor's liver is available. This retrospective study compared survival outcomes and recurrence pattern following salvage living donor LT (LDLT) and repeat LR in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent repeat LR (n = 163) or LDLT (n = 84) for recurrent HCC following curative resections, between January 2005 and December 2017 at a single institution. A 1:1 propensity score matching led to 42 patients per group. Disease-specific and recurrence-free survival were significantly better in the salvage LDLT group than in the repeat LR group (p = .042; HR = 2.40; 95% CI, 0.69-6.00 and p < .001; HR = 4.23; 95% CI, 2.05-8.71, respectively). Despite significant differences in recurrence patterns between the two groups (p = .019), the patient death rates, after recurrence, were similar for both groups (p = .760). This study indicates that salvage LDLT is superior to repeat LR for treating patients with transplantable, intrahepatic HCC recurrence, even in patients with Child-Pugh class A liver cirrhosis.

This study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of our diagnostic and therapeutic management algorithm and catheter-assisted (percutaneous transhepatic biliary tract drainage [PTBD] or transanastomotic feeding tube) hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) procedures in living liver donors (LLDs) with biliary complications. Living donor hepatectomy (LDH) was performed between September 2005 and April 2021 in 2 489 LLDs. Biliary complications developed in 220 LLDs (8.8%), 136 of which were male, and the median age was 29 (interquartile range [IQR]: 12) years. Endoscopic sphincterotomy ± stenting was performed in 132 LLDs, which was unsuccessful in 9 LLDs and required HJ. Overall, 142 LLDs underwent interventional radiologic procedures. Fifteen LLDs with biliary complications underwent HJ (PTBD catheter = 6 and transanastomotic feeding tube = 9) at a median of 44 days (IQR: 82). Following HJ, 14 LLDs did not have any complications throughout the median follow-up period of 1619 days (IQR: 1454). However, percutaneous dilation for HJ anastomotic stricture was performed in one patient. Biliary complications are very common following LDH; therefore, surgeons in the field should have a low threshold to perform HJ for biliary complications that persist after other treatments. Our catheter-assisted HJ techniques demonstrated a high success rate and aided HJ in a hostile abdomen during revisional surgery.

Living liver donation by minors is regarded as justifiable only if minors possess the capacity to consent to donation and the procedure is in their best interests. This study analyzed the incidence of and reasons for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) by minor donors in Korea, and discussed ethical issues regarding liver donation by minors.

The databases of the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) and Asan Medical Center (AMC) from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence of LDLT by minor donors.

From 2010 to 2019, 590 (4.1%) of 14,243 liver donors in the KONOS database and 276 (7.5%) of 3,401 liver donors in the AMC database were minors. The proportions of minor donors in the KONOS and AMC databases were highest in 2012, at 4.1% and 12.6%, respectively, and lowest in 2019, at 1.1% and 3.0%, respectively. Because most LDLT recipients had relatively low model for end-stage liver disease scores and hepatocellular carcinoma, they were unlikely candidates for deceased-donor liver transplantation and were highly likely to drop out of LDLT if they waited for 1-2 years. The donor-recipient relationship of minor donors in the AMC database was first-degree in 256 (92.8%) and second- or third-degree in 20 (7.2%).

Liver donation by minors is limitedly acceptable only when the minor proves informed, well-considered, and autonomous consent to the procedure and the procedure is in the minor's best interests. We suggest that minors be allowed to donate only to first-degree family members.

To evaluate the long-term mortality of Korean live liver donors using data from a national donor registry by comparing it with the mortality of the general population.

Although live liver donors generally have a healthy status, their long-term mortality has not been properly addressed in a large donor registry.

Data of 10,116 live liver donors were drawn from a mandated national registry of Korean live liver donors between 2000 and 2015. Matched controls were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance System-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC). Median (range) follow-up of liver donors was 5.7 (0-15.9) years. Donors were 1:3 individually matched to controls by sex and 5-year age group; potential controls were from the whole NHIS-NSC (Control 1) or from NHIS-NSC after excluding people with contraindications to be organ donors (Control 2) (donor, n = 7538; Control 1, n = 28,248; Control 2, n = 28,248).

Fifty-three deaths occurred after donation. Ten-year cumulative mortality of live liver donors was 0.9%. The most common cause of death was suicide (n = 19) followed by cancer (n = 9) and traffic accident (n = 7). In the matched control analysis, overall risk of death was significantly lower in donors than in Control 1 (P < 0.001), but higher than in Control 2 (P < 0.001).

Liver donors have increased long-term mortality risk compared to similar healthy controls without contraindications to be organ donors. Therefore, long-term follow-up, including psychosocial support, is needed for live liver donors.

This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of minimally invasive living donor hepatectomy in comparison with the open procedure, using Korean Organ Transplantation Registry data.

We reviewed the prospectively collected data of all 1,694 living liver donors (1,071 men, 623 women) who underwent donor hepatectomy between April 2014 and December 2017. The donors were grouped on the basis of procedure type to the minimally invasive procedure group (n = 304) or to the open procedure group (n = 1,390) and analyzed the relationships between clinical data and complications.

No donors died after the procedure. The overall complication rates after operation in the minimally invasive procedure group and the open procedure group were 6.2% and 3.5%, respectively. Biliary complications were the most frequent events in both groups (minimally invasive procedure group, 2.4%; open procedure group, 1.6%). The majority of complications occurred within 7 days after surgery in both groups. The duration of hospitalization was shorter in the minimally invasive procedure group than in the open procedure group (9.04 ± 3.78 days versus 10.29 ± 4.01 days; P < .05).

Based on its similar outcomes in our study, minimally invasive donor hepatectomy cannot be an alternative option compared with the open procedure method. To overcome this, we need to ensure better surgical safety, such as lower complication rate and shorter duration of hospitalization.

Recipient hepatectomy for an enlarged stony-hard liver is a demanding procedure, thus it is often accompanied by massive blood loss. Recipient liver splitting under prolonged hepatic inflow occlusion would facilitate the piggyback recipient hepatectomy. We herein present a case of recipient liver splitting, which was used for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). A 48-year-old male patient diagnosed with acute-on-chronic liver failure underwent LDLT. During the recipient operation, the native liver was stony-hard and heavily adherent to the retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC). During liver mobilization, diffuse oozing occurred due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. As a change in the concept, we decided to perform in situ liver splitting of the recipient liver to facilitate dissection of the retrohepatic IVC. Under hepatic inflow occlusion, right-left liver splitting was performed along the usual plane of extended left hepatectomy. The procedures time for recipient liver splitting and removal was 60 minutes. A modified right liver graft recovered from his daughter was implanted according to the standard procedures of LDLT. We think that recipient liver splitting is a feasible technical option for coping with difficult recipient hepatectomy, especially in patients with an enlarged stony-hard liver and heavy adhesion around the IVC.

With increasing rates of liver transplantation and a stagnant donor pool, the annual wait list removals have remained high. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an established modality in expanding the donor pool and is the primary method of liver donation in large parts of the world. Marginal living donors, including those with hepatic steatosis, have been used to expand the donor pool. However, due to negative effects of steatosis on graft and recipient outcomes, current practice excludes overweight or obese donors with more than 10% macro vesicular steatosis. This has limited a potentially important source to help expand the donor pool. Weight loss is known to improve or resolve steatosis and rapid weight loss with short-term interventions have been used to convert marginal donors to low-risk donors in a small series of studies. There is, however, a lack of a consensus driven standardized approach to such interventions.

To assess the available data on using weight loss interventions in potential living liver donors with steatotic livers and investigated the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of using such donors on the donor, graft and recipient outcomes. The principal objective was to assess if using such treated donor livers, could help expand the donor pool.

We performed a comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis on studies examining the role of short-term weight loss interventions in potential living liver donors with hepatic steatosis with the aim of increasing liver donation rates and improving donor, graft, and recipient outcomes.

A total of 6 studies with 102 potential donors were included. Most subjects were males (71). All studies showed a significant reduction in body mass index post-intervention with a mean difference of -2.08 (-3.06, 1.10, I 2 = 78%). A significant reduction or resolution of hepatic steatosis was seen in 93 of the 102 (91.2%). Comparison of pre- and post-intervention liver biopsies showed a significant reduction in steatosis with a mean difference of -21.22 (-27.02, -15.43, I 2 = 56%). The liver donation rates post-intervention was 88.5 (74.5, 95.3, I 2 = 42%). All donors who did not undergo LDLT had either recipient reasons or had fibrosis/steatohepatitis on post intervention biopsies. Post-operative biliary complications in the intervention group were not significantly different compared to controls with an odds ratio of 0.96 [(0.14, 6.69), I 2 = 0]. The overall post-operative donor, graft, and recipient outcomes in treated donors were not significantly different compared to donors with no steatosis.

Use of appropriate short term weight loss interventions in living liver donors is an effective tool in turning marginal donors to low-risk donors and therefore in expanding the donor pool. It is feasible and safe, with comparable donor, graft, and recipient outcomes, to non-obese donors. Larger future prospective studies are needed.

LDLT covers all standard indications for liver transplantation, and the results are similar or even better than for standard DDLT. Due to the donor shortage and long waiting time, LDLT has become a relevant option for patients with liver tumors, provided the expected five-year survival rate is comparable to that of patients receiving a DDLT. Nowadays, LDLT offers the possibility to extend the standard morphometric selection by considering the biological parameters. In the setting of LDLT, we are not only faced with surgical morbidity in the donor, but long-term non-medical problems like psychological complications and financial burden also have to be considered. On the other hand, the benefits to the donor are mainly social and psychological. In LDLT, the donor's altruism is the fundamental ethical principle and it is based on the principles of (1) beneficence (doing good), (2) non-maleficence (avoiding harm), (3) respect for autonomy, and (4) respect for justice (promoting fairness). On top of that, the concept of double equipoise of living organ donation evaluates the relationship between the recipient's need, the donor's risk, and the recipient's outcome. It considers each donor-recipient pair as a unit, analyzing whether the specific recipient's benefit justifies the specific donor's risk in particular oncologic indications. In this light, it is essential to seek adequate informed consent focused on risk, benefits and outcome benefits of both donor and recipient supported by an independent living donor advocate. Finally, the transplant team must protect donors from donation if harm does not justify the expected benefit to the recipient.

In living liver donors with rare anatomical anomaly of right-sided ligamentum teres (RSLT), right or left hemiliver procurement is commonly contraindicated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatic volume profiles in potential donors with RSLT using semi-automated CT volumetry (CTV).

Among 5535 potential donor candidates in our institution between April 2003 and May 2019, 23 cases of RSLT (0.4%) were included. Proportional liver volumes were measured using semi-automated CTV and compared with those of manual volumetry and intraoperative graft weights (seven surgical cases).

The mean percentage volume of the right posterior section was significantly larger than that of the left hemiliver (38.5 ± 8.4% vs. 23.3 ± 5.7%, P < 0.001). Particularly in independent right lateral type, the mean percentage volume of the right posterior section was about two times larger to that of the left hemiliver (41.5% ± 6.5% vs. 21.9% ± 4.4%, P < 0.001), whereas the volume proportions of these two parts were similar between the two parts in bifurcation and trifurcation types (P = 0.810 and 0.979, respectively). Semi-automated CTV of corresponding whole liver, right posterior section, right anterior section, and left hemiliver showed strong correlations with manual CTV (r = 0.989-0.998; P < 0.001). For the seven surgical cases, the graft weights estimated by semi-automated CTV showed a significant correlation with intraoperative graft weights (r = 0.972; P < 0.001).

In independent right lateral type of RSLT, the right posterior section tends to be significantly larger than left hemiliver, and may be an alternative option for graft in potential living liver donors with this rare anatomical anomaly.

Hepatic steatosis (HS) beyond a certain degree can jeopardize living donor (LD) safety, particularly in right lobe (RL) donors, making it a major obstacle for donor pool expansion in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT). From July 2004 to June 2016, 58 LDs donated their RLs despite having moderate HS (30%-50% steatosis) determined by intraoperative biopsy at a single center. We performed greedy matching to compare the outcomes of the donors and recipients of this group with those of LDs with no HS. The mean left lobe (LL) HS value in the 58 cases was 20.9 ± 12.4%, which was significantly lower than the mean RL HS value (38.8 ± 6.7%, P < 0.001). The mean ratio of the remnant LL to the total liver volume was 37.8 ± 2.2. No differences were observed in the postoperative liver function and donor and recipient morbidity and mortality rates. The liver regeneration rates in recipients and donors at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively did not differ significantly. The patient and graft survival rates of the recipients showed no differences. The use of well-selected RL grafts with moderate steatosis does not impair graft function, recipient outcomes, or donor safety.

This study aimed to explore young adult donors' experiences of living donor liver transplantation.

A phenomenological research method was used. The participants were two women and six men. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews from November 25th, 2019 to June 10th, 2020 and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method.

Five theme clusters extracted from the young adult donors' experiences were painful decision of a liver donation, the agony of both mind and body that overpowers youth, the bitter and bare face of reality that a young donor encounters, feeling the power of love that fills up the space of the organ removed, and liver donation becoming priming water for maturity.

The results of this study provide a deeper understanding of the lives of young adult donors who have experienced unexpected difficulties as well as self growth from the donation. It is expected that the results can be of use for developing and applying customized nursing interventions for management before and after liver donation among young adult donors.

Owing to the short supply of homologous vein allografts, we previously used ringed Gore-Tex vascular grafts for middle hepatic vein (MHV) reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation. When ringed Gore-Tex grafts became unavailable, we used Hemashield vascular grafts. This study aimed to compare the patency and complication rates of Hemashield and ringed Gore-Tex grafts.

This retrospective two-arm study compared the study group that received Hemashield grafts (n=157) and the propensity score-matched control group that received ringed Gore-Tex grafts (n=157).

In the Hemashield and Gore-Tex groups, the recipient age was 54.7±9.4 and 53.3±6.3 years; Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores were 15.9±9.2 and 16.9±8.3; and graft-recipient weight ratios were 1.07±0.24 and 1.10±0.23, respectively. In the Hemashield group, V5 reconstruction was performed using single (n=113, 72.0%), double (n=39, 24.8%), and triple (n=3, 1.9%) anastomoses. The proportion of double and triple anastomoses for V5 and V8 was higher in the Hemashield group than in the Gore-Tex group. Two (1.3%) patients required MHV conduit stenting owing to early thrombosis of the Hemashield graft. There was no difference in conduit occlusion- free patient survival rates between groups (p=0.91). The incidence of accidental conduit migration in the Hemashield and Gore-Tex groups was 0 (0%) and 2 (1.3%), respectively.

Hemashield grafts used in MHV reconstruction demonstrated acceptably high short- and mid-term patency rates, no incidences of conduit migration, easy handling, and good flexibility for length adjustment. Therefore, we suggest that the Hemashield graft is the preferentially suitable prosthetic material for MHV reconstruction.

We describe a patient with liver metastases from colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy and hepatic resection, who developed unresectable multifocal liver recurrence and who received liver transplantation using a novel planned technique: heterotopic transplantation of segment 2-3 in the splenic fossa with splenectomy and delayed hepatectomy after regeneration of the transplanted graft. We transplanted a segmental liver graft after in-situ splitting without any impact on the waiting list, as it was previously rejected for pediatric and adult transplantation. The volume of the graft was insufficient to provide liver function to the recipient, so we performed this novel operation. The graft was anastomosed to the splenic vessels after splenectomy, and the native liver portal flow was modulated to enhance graft regeneration, leaving the native recipient liver intact. The volume of the graft doubled during the next 2 weeks and the native liver was removed. After 8 months, the patient lives with a functioning liver in the splenic fossa and without abdominal tumor recurrence. This is the first case reported of a segmental graft transplanted replacing the spleen and modulating the portal flow to favor graft growth, with delayed native hepatectomy.