BACKGROUND: In adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), left liver graft is generally safer for the donor. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a technical refinement for achieving sufficient outflow using left liver graft.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-seven cases using left liver were divided into 2 groups according to the procedures of hepatic vein reconstruction: the side-clamp group (21 cases), and the cross-clamp group (26 cases), to sufficiently enlarge the diameter of the hepatic vein with excising the inferior vena cava (IVC).

RESULTS: The liver function tests at 7 days after LDLT were not significantly different between the 2 groups, but the median amount of ascites was significantly greater in the side-clamp group (1250 ml; range, 484–3690) than in the cross-clamp group (582 ml; 190–2785). When we selected the patients with the ratio of graft weight to recipient standard liver volume less than 30%, the 1-year patient survival after transplantation was significantly better in the cross-clamp group than in the side-clamp group (90% in cross-clamp group vs. 71% in side-clamp group, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, hepatic vein reconstruction with cross-clamping of the IVC can secure a sufficient outflow in LDLT using left liver graft.

Keywords: Hepatic Veins, Liver Transplantation, Living Donors