Correlation Between Graft Arterial Anatomy and Biliary Complications After Liver Transplantation

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. 2514 - 2515
• Main Authors: Ferraz-Neto, B.H, Meira-Filho, S.R, Hidalgo, R, Rezende, M.B, Zurstrassen, M.P.V.C, Thomé, T, Fonseca, L.E.P, Pandullo, F.L, Afonso, R.C
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Hepatic Artery - abnormalities; Hepatic Artery - anatomy & histology; Hepatic Artery - pathology; Hepatic Artery - transplantation; Humans; Liver Transplantation - adverse effects; Liver Transplantation - physiology; Liver, biliary tract, pancreas, portal circulation, spleen; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Thrombosis - epidemiology; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Biliary tract; Correlation; Digestive system; Liver; Anatomy; Homotransplantation; Artery; Medicine; Treatment; Blood vessel; Surgery; Complication; Graft; Circulatory system; Liver transplantation
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2007.07.036

Abstract Knowledge of the arterial vascular anatomy of the liver is important for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) because the lack of an adequate arterial blood supply results in biliary and parenchymal complications or graft loss. A number of reports have shown a relationship between aberrations of graft arteries and an increased incidence of early or late complications. Recent studies suggest no differences unless multiple anastomoses are required. The aim of this study was to report the incidence of aberrant hepatic arterial anatomy and its impact on vascular and biliary complications. We retrospectively reviewed data of 90 OLT performed on 82 patients, including 4 who underwent retransplantation from March 2003 to March 2006. The means recipient age was 52.47 years and 49 were men. The main caval vein reconstruction technique was piggyback (n = 55; 61.2%). The biliary reconstruction was performed by an end-to-end choledocho-choledocho anastomosis in 83 cases (92.3%) with choledocho-jejunal anastomosis (Roux-in-Y) in 7 cases (7.7%). Aberrant arterial anatomy was noted in 20 liver grafts (22.2%), namely, accessory right hepatic artery (n = 6; 6.6%), accessory left (n = 10; 11%), both accessory right and left (n = 3; 3.3%), and hepatic common artery from mesenteric artery (n = 1; 1.1%). Among the transplantations of grafts with aberrant arterial anatomy, 2 cases (10%) developed hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and 4 (20%) biliary complications. The rate of HAT and biliary complications among grafts with normal arterial anatomy was 3 and 8 cases (4.2% and 11.42%), respectively. Despite a greater number of complications among OLT with aberrant arterial anatomy, the Fisher test showed no significant relationship between HAT or biliary complications and aberrant arterial anatomy.