A Novel Strategy for Preventing Posttransplant Large-For-Size Syndrome in Adult Liver Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

There are two causes of graft compression in the large-for-size syndrome (LFSS). One is a shortage of intra-abdominal space for the liver graft, and the other is the size discrepancy between the anteroposterior dimensions of the liver graft and the lower right hemithorax of the recipient. The former could be treated using delayed fascial closure or mesh closure, but the latter may only be treated by reduction of the right liver graft to increase space. Given that split liver transplantation has strict requirements regarding donor and recipient selections, reduced-size liver transplantation, in most cases, may be the only solution. However, surgical strategies for the reduction of the right liver graft for adult liver transplantations are relatively unfamiliar. Herein, we introduce a novel strategy of HuaXi-ex vivo right posterior sectionectomy while preserving the right hepatic vein in the graft to prevent LFSS and propose its initial indications.

Keywords: ex vivo right posterior sectionectomy; graft-recipient weight ratio; large-for-size syndrome; reduced-size liver transplantation; right anteroposterior vertical distance; size mismatch.