Donor complications including the report of one death in right-lobe living-donor liver transplantation

Abstract

Background/aims: Our objective is to assess donor complications in all right hepatic lobe living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) at our center.

Methods: Of a total of 352 liver transplantations performed, 60 were right-lobe LDLT. Most donors (88.3%) were related to the recipients.

Results: Mean hospital stay was 5.4+/-0.6 days. No complications occurred due to preoperative evaluation. Most donors received one or two units of autologous blood transfusion. Only 5 (8.3%) needed nonautologous blood transfusion. Most complications were minor and treated conservatively. Bile leaks from the cut surface of the liver occurred in 5 donors (8.3%). Two patients had potentially fatal complications: perforated duodenal ulcer and portal vein thrombosis (PVT). The donor with perforated ulcer developed septicemia and multiple organ failure. He was discharged from the hospital with hemiparesis due to cerebral ischemia. The patient with PVT remained asymptomatic and the portal vein was recanalized by the 3rd postoperative month. One donor died in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac arrest due to cardiac arrhythmia.

Conclusion: Right hepatectomy for LDLT may be associated with significant morbidity, including death and it should be performed only by surgeons with great experience.