Evaluation of donor's liver regeneration after left lobe harvesting for living-related liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND

Computerized tomography-assisted volumetry permits one to estimate the volume of the liver graft as well as to monitor the regeneration in the donor for living- related liver transplantation (LRLT).

METHODS

The size of the whole liver and of the segments II, III, and IV was assessed in 64 living-related liver donors by preoperative computerized tomography (CT) volumetry. Segments II and III were harvested in 56 cases; segments II, III, and IV in 8 cases. The remnant liver was assessed by CT volumetry on postoperative days 7 and 30.

RESULTS

There was a linear correlation between the calculated volume of the graft and its weight (R = 0.61, P < .04). Postoperative CT volumetry of the liver from a living-related donor showed a different pattern of volume restoration (regeneration index) both at 7 and 30 days among donors who sacrificed segments II and III versus segments II, III, and IV. The mean regeneration indices were significantly higher among donors of segments II, III, and IV compared with donors of segments II and III after 7 and 30 days (P < .05).

DISCUSSION: It is possible that the donor liver displays a different pattern of growth due to the alteration in the blood supply to segment IV.