The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation  2010;24(1):40-42

doi:10.4285/jkstn.2010.24.1.40

Hepatic Artery Reconstruction Using the Right Gastroepiploic Artery for Hepatic Artery Inflow in a Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Joo Dong KIM 1 ; Dong Lak CHOI ; Young Seok HAN

Affiliations

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Keywords

Right gastroepiploic artery; Hepatic artery inflow; Hepatic artery reconstruction; Living donor liver transplantation

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Securing the source of hepatic artery inflow is essential for living donor liver transplantation. However, sometimes, the hepatic arteries of the recipients are in poor condition for a good anastomosis in living donor liver transplantation; problems include severe arteriosclerosis, intimal dissection, and significant intimal injuries caused by previous transarterial procedures. In these conditions, the right gastroepiploic artery has generally been the preferred artery because of its anatomical location, size and length. Here, a case of successful hepatic artery reconstruction is reported using the right gastroepiploic artery in living donor liver transplantation. The recipient's hepatic arterial intima was severely injured by multiple transarterial chemoembolization and unsuitable for reconstruction. Instead, the right gastroepiploic artery was anastomosed to the hepatic artery of the graft. Arterial blood flow was satisfactory on Doppler ultrasonography during the operation, and complications related to the hepatic artery were not detected during the follow-up period. Therefore, the right gastroepiploic artery may be considered as a suitable alternative for hepatic artery reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation.