Surgical rationalization of living donor liver transplantation by abolition of hepatic artery reconstruction under a fixed microscope

The small diameter of the hepatic artery is one of the complexities of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We analyzed whether the direct suture technique using surgical loupes can simplify the operative process for LDLT compared with fixed microscopic reconstruction. We applied the direct technique to rationalize the operative process and abolished routine microsurgery from 2004. Two hundred and nine LDLT with a postoperative period over 34 months were carried out from 1996 to 2008. The patients were divided into two groups: the micro group (children: 20, adults: 72) and the non-micro group (children: 12, adults: 97). Running anastomosis was undertaken in the non-micro group. The anastomotic size of the children was significantly smaller than that of the adults, but larger than 2 mm (2.38 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.47 mm, p = 0.0005). By appropriate choice of the proximal artery, direct anastomosis is possible even in children. Early complications occurred in seven cases in the micro group, but none occurred in the non-micro group (p < 0.05). Significant reductions were observed in operation time (p < 0.0001), blood loss (p < 0.05), and hospital stay (p < 0.01) in the non-micro group. Non-microscopic anastomosis is useful for the rationalization of LDLT.