Transplantation 1996 Apr 15;61(7):1059-61

One year of experience with extended application and modified techniques of
split liver transplantation

Rogiers X, Malago M, Gawad KA, Kuhlencordt R, Froschle G, Sturm E, Sterneck M,
Pothmann W, Schulte am Esch J, Burdelski M, Broelsch C

Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Abstract

As organ donation rates decreased in Europe, the authors started a systematic
approach of liver splitting in their center in 1994. During this 1-year
experience, 73 cadaveric liver transplantations were performed in 66 patients.
Sixteen of these transplantations were the result of split-liver transplantation
(21.9% of grafts, 24.2% of patients). Patient and graft survival rates at 3
months were 81.2% and 75%, compared with 89.1% and 76.9 % for whole organs. Two
modified techniques were developed, based on the technique of living related
liver procurement, and applied in 10 cases. With these new techniques, patient
and graft survival rates were 90% and 90%. This systematic approach allowed the
total number of transplantations in our program to be maintained, despite the
decrease in organ availability