Reduced-size liver transplantation in mini pigs
Lai, H.S.; Lee, P.H.; Chen, W.J.; Hu, R.H.; Chen, K.M.; Chu, S.H.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 93(Suppl 1): S29-S33
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0929-6646 PMID: 7920092 Document Number: 429653
Liver transplantation as therapy for end stage hepatic disease has developed rapidly since the 1980s. Pediatric candidates, however, have suffered the greatest delay in receiving suitable organs, with 20% to 50% of deaths occurring in patients on the waiting list. To overcome the shortage of young donors, surgeons are currently experimenting with the technique of partial liver transplantation. In this study, 10 pairs of mini pigs were used for partial liver transplantation. UW (University Wisconsin) solution was used for liver preservation after the liver was procured. The left lobe was separated using the intact vascular branches method. The raw surface was covered with histoacryl orthotopically in the smaller pig in a position of 60 degrees-90 degrees counter clockwise rotation. The results were: (1) six of the ten transplanted pigs survived for more then one week without any immunosuppressive drugs; (2) the mean operation time was 5h 18 mins; (3) the mean ischemic time of the donor liver was 6h 25 mins; (4) the liver functions tests were acceptable until the day before death. Based on this experiment, we suggest that partial liver transplantation is feasible, both technically functionally.