Objective To investigate the impact of cavoplasty on the piggy back liver transplantation and on the prevention of hepatic outflow block. Methods Three patients received modified piggy back liver transplantation with venacavoplasty under single veno venous bypass. Results All the recipients had stability of dynamic circulation, short anhepatic phase and decreased hemorrhage during operation. Postoperatively all the patients recovered quickly with good liver function without any complications. Conclusions Venacavoplasty may overcome outflow block in piggy back liver transplantation and the technique can shorten anhepatic phase and decrease complications.

BACKGROUND:Nowadays,liver grafts for transplantation are clinically sourced from non-heart-beating donors.Moreover,there is still no uniform determination of safe time limit points for non-heart-beating donor liver in warm ischemia and cold preservation.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the application safety and curative effects of warm ischemia liver graft affected by varied cold ischemia time (CIT) in liver transplantation.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A randomized controlled observation was performed in the Organ Transplantation Center,First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2006 and December 2007.PARTICIPANTS:154 cases who underwent non-heart-beating liver transplantation were included in this study.All liver graftsinvolved had a warm ischemia time(WIT) less than 10 minutes.METHODS:All cases were assigned into 3 groups according to CIT:group Ⅰ (CIT＜8 hours,n=58),group Ⅱ (CIT 8-12hours,n=62),and group Ⅲ (CIT 13-16 hours,n=34).The liver grafts were randomly allocated for the patients.Following liver transplantation,the same immunosuppression protocol was employed for each group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Following surgery,peak level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after liver transplantation,acute rejection response,biliary complications,vessel complications,perioperative infections,graft and recipient survival rate were compared among 3 groups.RESULTS:Follow-up time was 8-32 months.No PGD was detected in all 154 cases.Group Ⅱ showed postoperative ALT peak levels significantly higher than group Ⅰ (P＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between groups Ⅰ and Ⅱin terms of acute cellular rejection,perioperative infection,biliary complication,vessel complication,graft survival rate,and recipient survival rate (P＞0.05).Compared with group Ⅰ,the group Ⅲ exhibited significantly increased postoperative ALT peak level,biliary complications,and perioperative infections,and significantly decreased graft and recipient survival rate (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Non-heat-beating-liver grafts with less than 10 minutes of warm ischemia can tolerance 12 hours of cold ischemia.More than 12 hours,postoperative liver transplantation complications ascend and,contradictorily,graft and recipient survival rate descend.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of liver grafts with warm ischemia and with different cold preservation time in liver transplantation.Methods The clinical data of 154 patients who received liver transplantation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2006 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.The warm ischemia time of the liver grafts obtained from the non-heart-beating donors was within 10 minutes.According to cold perservation time of the liver grafts,patients were divided into 3 groups:the cold preservation time of the liver grafts was within 8 hours,8-12 hours and above 12 hours in group I(n=58),group Ⅱ(n=62)and group Ⅲ(n=34),respectively.The peak level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),primary graft dysfunction(PGD)after liver transplantation,acute rejection response,biliary complications,vessel complications,perioperative infections and the survival of liver grafts and recipients among the 3 groups were analyzed via chi-square test,t test and variance analysis.Results No PGD was detected in the 3 groups after liver transplantation.All patients were followed up for 8-32 months.The peak level of ALT,incidence of infection and biliary complication,survival of liver grafts and recipients were(482±357)U/L,12%(7/58),12%(7/58),86%(50/58)and 88%(51/58)in group Ⅰ,and were(1274±608)U/L,29%(10/34),26%(9/34),68%(23/34)and 71%(24/34)in group Ⅲ,with significant difference between the 2 groups(t=5.23,X~2=4.28,6.77,4.51,4.28,P<0.05).The peak level of ALT in group Ⅱ was(953±424)U/L,which was significant higher than(482±357)U/L in group Ⅰ(t=4.76,P＜0.05).Conclusions Liver grafts with a warm ischemia time shorter than 10 minutes could tolerate the injury caused by cold preservation with the maximum time of 12 hours.The incidences of biliary complications and postoperative infections are significantly increased and the survivals of liver grafts and recipients are decreased when the cold preservation time exceeds 12 hours.

Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in treatment of biliary complications after liver transplantation. Methods Data of 39 patients who underwent ERCP between January 2005 and December 2007 because of biliary complications after liver trans-plantation were retrospectively evaluated. Endoscopic sphincterotomy, dilatation, nasal-biliary drainage (ENBD) and stent placement were performed in 25 patients with biliary strictures (14 at anastomosis site and 11 at non-anastomosis site). ENBD and stent placement were applied in 6 patients with biliary leakage, while endoscopic sphincterotomy, ENBD and stone extraction with baskets were performed in 16 patients with biliary stones. Procedures were repeated when necessary. Results ERCP was successfully performed at a rate of 95.9% (94/98) without any severe complications. Strictures at anastomosis site were resolved in all patients (100%, 14/14), while for strictures at non-anastomosis site, only 27.3% (3/11) were cured. Biliary leakage was resolved in 83.3% (5/6) patients. Complete bile duet clearance was achieved in 81.3% (13/16) of the patients with biliary stones. Conclusion ERCP proves to be safe and effective in the treatment of post liver transplantation biliary complications with low incidence of severe complications.

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage hepatic artery thrombosis(HAT) after adult liver transplantation.Methods387 consecutive adult patients who underwent liver transplantation from June 2007 to October 2010 by the same surgery team in the Transplant Center,First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively studied.Hepatic arterial blood flow was monitored by color Doppler ultrasound (DUS) daily during the first week after transplantation.Ultrasonic contrast or hepatic artery angiography was performed on recipients with suspected HAT.Results10 patients developed HAT on 7(2-18)d after operation.The incidence of HAT was 2.6％ (10/387).Interventional therapy was performed in 2 patients with one patient who received a stent because of hepatic artery stricture.Three patients underwent emergent hepatic artery revascularization combined with intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis treatment.One developed a rethrombosis and died.The remaining 2 patients received re-transplantation.Three patients died of liver failure and severe infection.The mortality rate was 40％ (10/387).ConclusionsIt is essential to diagnoses HAT by monitoring the artery flow by Doppler ultrasound screening in the early period after operation.Interventional therapy,emergent hepatic artery revascularization and re-transplantation are effective rescue treatments.Prevention of HAT is most important.

Objective To investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning on the cholesterol content and the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase of hepatocytes following cold preservation in rats.Methods Twenty-five rats were randomly divided into five groups,including control group (C),cold preservation group (Ⅰ),ischemic preconditioning group (ⅠP),atorvastatin (30 μmol/L) treatment group (A30),and atorvastatin (100 μmol/L) treatment group (A100).The cholesterol content and the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase were assessed.Results The cholesterol contents on the rat liver tissue cell membrane in the C group,Ⅰ group,ⅠP group,A30 group and A100 group were (310.4 ± 27.5),(187.7±13.1),(394.3±25.9),(201.8±14.6) and (122.6±7.7) nmol/mg protein,and activity of the Na+ -K+ -ATP enzyme was (46.55 ± 3.20),(27.4 ± 2.81),(52.71 ± 3.02),(30.67 ±2.78) and (19.64 ± 2.11) μmol Pi/hr mg protein,respectively (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the plasma membrane phospholipid content among the five groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Reduction of cholesterol content and Na+ K+ -ATPase activity on the liver cytoplasmic membrane is one of the factors causing donor liver cold preservation injury,but ischemic preconditioning can significantly improve cell membrane Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity and increase cytoplasmic membrane cholesterol content. Use of atorvastatin statins can reduce cytoplasmic membrane cholesterol synthesis,and significantly decrease Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity,thereby alleviating the donor liver cold preservation injury.

AIM: To investigate the effect of microwave ablation of liver cancer on the cellular immunity in mice. METHODS: A C57BL/6J mouse model of liver cancer was established by subcutaneous injection of Hepa 1 - 6 cells. The tumors were subjected to microwave ablation under the ablation condition of 45 ℃, 50 ℃, 55 ℃ or 60 ℃ for 180 s. The CD4~+ T cells, CD8~+ T cells and natural killer cells (NK) in peripheral blood were detected by FACS. The cytotoxicity of splenic NK and splenic cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activated by inactivated Hepa 1-6 cells was assayed by LDH method. RESULTS: The proportions of CD4~+ T cells, CD8~+ T cells and NK cells in peripheral blood in 50 ℃ and 55 ℃ group at 21 d after ablation were significantly increased and that of NK cells in 60 ℃ group was significantly increased. There was no significant difference between those in group 42 d after ablation and control. The cytotoxicities of splenic CTL and NK cells in 50 ℃ and 55 ℃ groups at 21 d or 42 d after ablation were significantly increased, and they were much higher than those in 45 ℃ group at the same time. The cytotoxicities of splenic CTL in 50 ℃ and 55 ℃ groups at 21 d after ablation were much higher than that in 60 ℃ group at the same time. CONCLUSION: Under a certain ablation temperature, microwave ablation of liver cancer promotes the cellular immunity.

Objective To explore the operative technique of liver retransplantation.Methods The clinical data of 24 patients who underwent liver retransplantation in the recent 4 years in our center were reviewed.In all of the patients a modified piggy-back liver transplantation was adopted.Extracorporeal venous bypass was used in 6 cases,and no bypass was used in 18 cases.We anastomosed the suprahepatic inferior vena cava to the annexed vena cava in a modified piggy-back figuration.The portal vein was reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis.In 17 cases the hepaticy artery was anastomosed end-to-end,and in the other 7 cases was(anastomosed) to abdominal aorta by interposition graft.In 6 cases the biliary tract was reconstructed by(end-to-end) anastomosis,and in the others by choledochojejunostomy.All of the patients were routinely followed up after operation.Results Postoperative mortality of liver retransplantation was 41.6%(10/24).The cause of death was sepsis in 7 patients,intraoperative bleeding in 2,and cerebral hemorrhage in 1.The other patients(14/24,58.4%) successfully recovered after liver retransplantation.The complication rate in this group was 21.4%%(3/14),including biliary tract complications in 2 patients,and wound dehiscence in 1.Conclusions There was no significant difference in operative time and blood loss between liver(retransplantation) and primary transplantation.The key for success is to adopt individuation in selection of(methods) for liver retransplantation.The difficulty of liver retransplantation is exposure and mobilization of(inferior) vena cava. The probability of interposition graft from hepatic artery to abdominal aorta and(choledochojejunostomy) is higer than that of primary liver transplantation.

Objective　To report the experience in diagnosis and treatment of inferior vena cava stenosis (IVCS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods　The clnical data of 3 patients with IVCS out of 51 OLT patients were analysed retrospectively. Results　The incidence of IVCS after OLT was 5.8% (3/51) in our hospital. In the 3 cases, IVCS of the posteriorhepatic IVC segment occurred within the first postoperative month. IVCS was identified by color duplex ultrasonography and confirmed by angiography. Percutaenous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or metallic stent replacement were used in the 3 cases resulting in restoration of normal venous flow and elimination of legs edema. The first patient died of cerebral hemorrhage 14 days after transplantation during anti-coagulative therapy. The other two recovered smoothly with good liver function, abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated patency of the IVC. The 2 cases were alive for 18 and 4 months respectively. Conclusions　The venacavographic balloon angioplasty and metallic stent replacement are safe and useful for post-OLT IVCS. The short-term result is excellent.

AIM To investigate the effects of tranfection of IL 2R antisense RNA expression plasmids on mouse spleen cells' proliferation in vitro and its possible mechanism. METHODS Spleen cells were transfected with IL 2R antisense RNA eukaryotic expression plasmids using adhesion assisted lipofection method, and then the spleen cells were stimulated by mitogen. Cells' proliferation was tested by tetrazolium salt (MTT) method. IL 2R mRNA and protein expression level were measured by slot blot hybridization assay and flow cytometry method respectively. RESULTS The proliferation of spleen cells was inhibited obviously after transfecting with recombinant plasmids. The inhibitory rate of pcAnti mIL 2R?? and pciAnti mIL 2R?? transfected group was higher than that of pcAnti mIL 2R? and pcAnti mIL 2R? transfected group; the inhibitory rate of pcAnti mIL 2R? tranfected group was higher than that of pcAnti mIL 2R? tranfected group. No inhibitory effect on the growth of NIH3T3 cells was observed when they were transfected with recombinant plasmids. IL 2R mRNA and protein expression level were decreased in spleen cells after transfection of recombinant plasmids. CONCLUSION IL 2R antisense RNA can efficiently inhibit the proliferation of mouse spleen cells in vitro. IL 2R?? chimeric antisense RNA showed higher inhibitory rate than ? or ? antisense RNA. IL 2R? antisense RNA was more effective than ? antisense RNA. It can be concluded preliminarily that the inhibitory effect of IL 2R antisense RNA was exclusively on the growth of cells functionally expressing IL 2R. The inhibitory effect on the spleen cells proliferation was likely due to the blocking of IL 2R expression by antisense RNA.