Using on-site liver 3-D reconstruction and volumetric calculations in split liver transplantation

BACKGROUND： Split liver transplantation increases the number of grafts available for transplantation. Pre-recovery assessment of liver graft volume is essential for selecting suitable recipients. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability and feasibility of constructing a 3-D model to aid in surgical planning and to predict graft weight prior to an in situ division of the donor liver. METHODS： Over 11 months, 3-D volumetric reconstruction of 4 deceased donors was performed using Pathfinder Scout liver volumetric software. Demographic, laboratory, operative, perioperative and survival data for these patients along with donor demographic data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS： The average predicted weight of the grafts from the adult donors obtained from an in situ split procedure were 1130 g （930-1458 g） for the extended right lobe donors and 312 g （222-396 g） for left lateral segment grafts. Actual adult graft weight was 92% of the predicted weight for both the extended right grafts and the left lateral segment grafts. The predicted and actual graft weights for the pediatric donors were 176 g and 210 g for the left lateral segment grafts and 308 g and 280 g for the extended right lobe grafts,respectively. All grafts were transplanted except for the right lobe from the pediatric donors due to the small graft weight.CONCLUSIONS： On-site volumetric assessment of donors provides useful information for the planning of an in situ split and for selection of recipients. This information may expand the donor pool to recipients previously felt to be unsuitable due to donor and/or recipient weight.

“Weighing the risk”: Obesity and outcomes following liver transplantation

Obesity is on the rise worldwide. As a result, unprecedented rates of patients are presenting with end stage liver disease in the setting of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and are requiring liver transplantation. There are significant concerns that the risk factors associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome might have a detrimental effect on the long term outcomes following liver transplantation. In general, short term patient and graft outcomes for both obese and morbidly obese patients are comparable with that of non-obese patients, however, several studies report an increase in peri-operative morbidity and increased length of stay. Continued studies documenting the long-term outcomes from liver transplantation are needed to further examine the risk of recurrent disease(NAFLD) and also further define the role risk factors such cardiovascular disease might play long term. Effective weight reduction in the post liver transplant setting may mitigate the risks associated with the metabolic syndrome long-term.

Links between donor macrosteatosis,interleukin-33 and complement after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND As prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increases in the population,livers with steatosis will continue to infiltrate the donor pool.Safe utilization of these extended criteria grafts is paramount given the increased risk associated with their use in transplantation.Prognostic factors that can predict liver dysfunction immediately after transplantation with macrosteatotic grafts are lacking.AIM To understand the relationship between interleukin-33(IL-33)and complement in recipients immediately following liver reperfusion as a marker of liver dysfunction.METHODS Cohort consisted of patients who received a liver transplant from September 2016–September 2019 at our institution.Clinical variables were retrospectively extracted from the electronic medical record.Back-table donor biopsies were obtained with donor steatosis percentage retrospectively determined by a boardcertified pathologist.Blood samples were available immediately following liver transplantation.Quantification of plasma IL-33 and complement proteins,C3a and C5a,were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.For mRNA expression,RNA was extracted from donor biopsies and used against a 780 gene panel.RESULTS Cohort consisted of 99 donor and recipients.Donor median age was 45 years and 55%male.Recipients had a median age of 59 years with 62%male.The main etiologies were alcoholic hepatitis,nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,and hepatocellular carcinoma.Median MELD-Na at transplant was 21.Donors were grouped based on moderate macrosteatosis(≥30%).Recipients implanted with moderate macrosteatotic grafts had significantly higher peak alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase(P<0.001 and P<0.004),and increased incidence of early allograft dysfunction(60%compared to 18%).Circulating IL-33 levels were significantly elevated in recipients of≥30%macrosteatotic grafts(P<0.05).Recipients with detectable levels of circulating IL-33 immediately following reperfusion had significantly higher alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase(P<0.05 and P<0.01).Activated complement(C3a and C5a)were elevated in recipients implanted with moderate macrosteatotic grafts.RNA expression analysis of donor biopsies revealed moderate steatotic grafts upregulated genes inflammatory processes while downregulated hepatocyte-produced complement factors.CONCLUSION Circulating IL-33 and activated complement levels immediately following liver reperfusion in recipients of moderate macrosteatotic grafts may identify which patients are at risk of early allograft dysfunction.