Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using small and ultra-small sized grafts for in situ auxiliary liver transplantation in the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods:A prospective single-arm cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent liver transplantation at Beijing Friendship Hospital from December 2014 to July 2025 were included. Intraoperative portal vein pressure was routinely monitored, with the target regulation for portal vein blood flow set at<15 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and follow-up continued until September 2025. The primary endpoints were the patient's status and graft survival. The secondary endpoints were small-for-size syndrome and perioperative complications. The small-for-size syndrome was graded according to the 2023 International Liver Transplantation Society consensus statement.Results:A total of 33 cases were enrolled. Among them, 22 had ultra-small size grafts, 11 had small-size grafts, 28 had living donor grafts, and five had split grafts. The graft-to-recipient weight ratio in living donor liver transplantation was 0.31%～0.79%, while in split liver transplantation it was 0.45%～1.02%. Intraoperative portal vein pressure of ≥15 mmHg was observed in 11 cases, who underwent portal vein blood flow adjustment via splenic artery ligation (2 cases), partial splenectomy (8 cases), and/or restrictive portocaval shunting (1 case), after which all patients achieved the target portal vein pressure. All cases completed at least one month of follow-up, with 28 cases following for more than one year, and the median follow-up period was 36.5 months. Early-stage postoperative small-for-size syndrome occurred in eight cases (24.2%, 8/33), all classified as grade A, with improvements following supportive treatment. Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo≥Ⅲ) occurred in three cases (9.1%, 3/33). The one-year survival rate was 92.9% (26/28). The overall survival rate at the end of follow-up was 90.9% (30/33). No patients experienced graft loss or death due to small-for-size syndrome. Graft tissue tested negative for hepatitis B core antibody and covalently closed circular DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion was achieved following second-stage residual liver resection and under a combined strategy of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs and hepatitis B immunoglobulin in ten cases of hepatitis B-related disease.Conclusions:With standardized portal vein blood flow monitoring and individualized portal vein blood flow adjustment, in situ auxiliary liver transplantation can safely and effectively use small and even ultra-small sized grafts, thereby significantly expanding graft sources and ensuring donor and recipient safety. These findings warrant further validation and promotion in multicenter controlled studies.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using small and ultra-small sized grafts for in situ auxiliary liver transplantation in the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods:A prospective single-arm cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent liver transplantation at Beijing Friendship Hospital from December 2014 to July 2025 were included. Intraoperative portal vein pressure was routinely monitored, with the target regulation for portal vein blood flow set at<15 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and follow-up continued until September 2025. The primary endpoints were the patient's status and graft survival. The secondary endpoints were small-for-size syndrome and perioperative complications. The small-for-size syndrome was graded according to the 2023 International Liver Transplantation Society consensus statement.Results:A total of 33 cases were enrolled. Among them, 22 had ultra-small size grafts, 11 had small-size grafts, 28 had living donor grafts, and five had split grafts. The graft-to-recipient weight ratio in living donor liver transplantation was 0.31%～0.79%, while in split liver transplantation it was 0.45%～1.02%. Intraoperative portal vein pressure of ≥15 mmHg was observed in 11 cases, who underwent portal vein blood flow adjustment via splenic artery ligation (2 cases), partial splenectomy (8 cases), and/or restrictive portocaval shunting (1 case), after which all patients achieved the target portal vein pressure. All cases completed at least one month of follow-up, with 28 cases following for more than one year, and the median follow-up period was 36.5 months. Early-stage postoperative small-for-size syndrome occurred in eight cases (24.2%, 8/33), all classified as grade A, with improvements following supportive treatment. Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo≥Ⅲ) occurred in three cases (9.1%, 3/33). The one-year survival rate was 92.9% (26/28). The overall survival rate at the end of follow-up was 90.9% (30/33). No patients experienced graft loss or death due to small-for-size syndrome. Graft tissue tested negative for hepatitis B core antibody and covalently closed circular DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion was achieved following second-stage residual liver resection and under a combined strategy of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs and hepatitis B immunoglobulin in ten cases of hepatitis B-related disease.Conclusions:With standardized portal vein blood flow monitoring and individualized portal vein blood flow adjustment, in situ auxiliary liver transplantation can safely and effectively use small and even ultra-small sized grafts, thereby significantly expanding graft sources and ensuring donor and recipient safety. These findings warrant further validation and promotion in multicenter controlled studies.

Objective: To assess the incidence and independent risk factors for clinical anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients undergoing anterior resection (AR) or low anterior resection, (LAR) for rectal cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study of 550 patients with rectal cancer who underwent AR or LAR from April 2007 to March 2017 in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University. The relationship between the incidence of AL and clinicopathological manifestations was analyzed by Chi-squared test and Fisher exact test, and the independent risk factors of AL were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. AL is defined as a defect (including necrosis or abscess formation) of the intestinal wall at the anastomotic site, leading to a communication between the intra- and extra-luminal compartments. AL can be divided into three grades. Grade A anastomotic leakage results in no change in the management of patients, whereas grade B leakage requires active therapeutic intervention but is manageable without re-laparotomy. Grade C anastomotic leakage requires re-laparotomy. Results: AL was noted in 32 (5.8%) of 550 patients with rectal cancer who underwent AR or LAR, including 15 (46.9%) , 4 (12.5%) , and 13 patients (40.6%) with Grades A, B, and C, respectively. Five patients (0.9%, 5/550) died peri-operatively. AL- and non-AL-related deaths occurred in 3 (9.4%, 3/32, all cases were Grade C) and 2 patients (0.4%, 2/518) , respectively, with the two mortality rates being significant difference (P = 0.002) . Chi-squared test or Fisher exact test showed that the incidence of AL was associated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (P = 0.011) , intraoperative bleeding (≥100 ml) (χ² = 11.980, P = 0.001) , and tension-reducing suture of anastomosis (P = 0.015) . The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors of AL were neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (OR = 2.402, 95%CI: 1.004 - 5.749, P = 0.049) , intraoperative bleeding (≥100 ml) (OR = 2.971, 95%CI: 1.269 - 6.957, P = 0.012) and tension-reducing suture of anastomosis (OR = 2.304, 95%CI: 1.008 - 5.263, P = 0.048) . Conclusion The incidence of AL in patients undergoing AR for rectal cancer is 5.8%. The high-risk factors for AL are neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, intraoperative bleeding (≥100 ml) , and tension-reducing suture of anastomosis. Patients with these three risk factors have a high risk of AL rate, and a defunctioning stoma should be performed.