Background: To evaluate feasibility and safety of venovenous bypass prior to mobilization of the liver during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).
Methods: Fifty-four patients were classified into two groups. Group A consisted of 23 patients receiving OLT with classical venovenous bypass. Group B consisted of 31 patients who received a modified-procedure: venovenous bypass ahead of the mobilization of the liver during OLT. The blood loss, duration of venovenous bypass, cold ischemia time, anhepatic phase, and transfusion during operation in the two groups were compared. Complications after the operation were also compared between the two groups.
Results: The duration of venovenous bypass and cold ischemia time in group A were longer than those in group B [(99.78+/-21.36 min) vs (96.32+/-22.25 min) and (484.78+/-134.01 min) vs (443.15+/- 85.27 min)]. The anhepatic phase lasted for about 100 min averagely in the two groups. The volumes of blood loss and transfusion during the operation were larger in group A than in group B [(5096+/-4243 ml) vs (1726+/-1125 ml) and (3676+/-2938.74 ml) vs (1217.69+/-829.72 ml)]. Postoperative complications occurred in 26 patients of group A and in 19 patients of group B.
Conclusion: This modified-procedure or venovenous bypass ahead of mobilization of the liver in OLT can reduce the blood loss during OLT and the incidence of postoperative complications without prolongation of the anhepatic phase and duration of venovenous bypass.