Background: We performed a modified right hepatectomy completely by laparoscopic techniques preserving the middle hepatic vein (MHV) branches in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).
Patients and methods: Two young women (24 and 25 years old) volunteered to be live donors for their parents who had hepatocellular carcinomas. As the donors expressed concerns about scarring, we performed a laparoscopic procedure using a hand port device. Mobilization of the right liver and the hepatic parenchymal transection were performed under pneumoperitoneum. Parenchymal transection was performed using a laparoscopic ultrasonic aspirator without the Pringle maneuver. During parenchymal transection, major MHV branches >5 mm were preserved using Hem-o-lock clips. The graft was extracted through the hand port site. On the back table, the 3 MHV branches were reconstructed using an artificial vascular graft. The livers were transplanted without complications.
Results: The operative times for the donors were 765 and 898 minutes. The donors did not require transfusions or reoperation; they were discharged on postoperative days 10 and 14 with normal liver functions.
Conclusion: A hepatectomy performed completely by laparoscopic techniques for a right graft with preservation of the MHV branches was technically feasible.