Proposal of a Network System to Solve the Problem of Small Volume in Liver Transplantation; Catholic Medical Center Network.

Introduction: Liver transplantation (LT) is a complex and demanding procedure associated with significant perioperative challenges and risks. Concerns have arisen regarding LT outcomes in low-volume centers. We implemented an integrated training and surgical team network to address these concerns within the Catholic Medical Center (CMC) network.

Pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy in patients over 50 years old: Why age should not be a barrier.

Introduction: Given the global aging population, the average age of liver donors is increasing. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of grafts from pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy (PLDRH) in liver donors aged > 50 years.

Methods: The medical records of liver donors were retrospectively reviewed.

Modified Charlson comorbidity index as a survival prediction tool for older patients after liver transplantation.

Purpose: An increasing number of older patients now undergo liver transplantation (LT). Although the overall outcomes in older patients are not different from those of younger patients, there is no tool to predict LT prognosis in older patients. We hypothesized that a modified Charlson comorbidity index (mCCI) and 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) can predict outcomes in older patients after LT.

Redo hepatic artery reconstruction for thrombosis without retransplantation in 1355 adult living donor liver transplantations.

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after liver transplantation is associated with a marked increase in morbidity, leading to graft and patient loss. We evaluated the outcomes of adult living donor liver transplantation patients with HAT under an aggressive surgical intervention. A total of 1355 recipients underwent adult living donor liver transplantation at the Seoul National University Hospital.

Long-term outcomes of liver transplantation using grafts from donors with active hepatitis B virus replication: a multicenter cohort study.

Purpose: Liver grafts from donors with HBV infection contributed to expanding the donor pool under the hepatitis B immunoglobulin and antiviral agents (nucleos(t)ide analogues) in the HBV-endemic area. We report long-term outcomes of liver transplantations (LTs) using grafts from donors with active or chronic HBV infection.

Methods: Overall, 2,260 LTs performed in 3 major hospitals in Seoul from January 2000 to April 2019 were assessed for inclusion.

Total robot-assisted recipient's surgery in living donor liver transplantation: First step towards the future.

Lee and colleagues describe a groundbreaking total robot-assisted explant hepatectomy followed by robotic engraftment for a patient requiring a living donor liver transplant. This report represents a crucial step towards implementing robot-assisted liver transplantation, a cutting-edge surgical technique that could change the surgical trend in recipient surgery for liver transplantation.

Swine Partial Liver Transplantation Model for Practicing Living Donor Liver Transplantation Based on a New Liver Segmentation Method.

Background: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is one of the most technically demanding and complicated procedures. However, unlike deceased donor liver transplantation, there is no suitable animal model for practicing LDLT. Herein, we propose a new liver segmentation method and a feasible pig LDLT model for practicing for LDLT in humans.

Long-Term Survival Outcomes beyond the First Year after Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Acute Liver Failure Compared with Biliary Atresia: A Large-Volume Living Donor Liver Transplantation Single-Center Study.

Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) is a common cause of liver transplantation (LT) but showed poor post-LT outcomes. We reviewed 36 PALF patients and 120 BA patients who underwent LT in our institution. The cause of PALF was unknown in 66.

Posttransplant renal replacement therapy is an alarm signal for survival outcomes in pediatric liver transplantation.

Background: The impact of renal replacement therapy (RRT) on the long-term survival outcomes of pediatric liver recipients remains controversial.

Methods: A total of 224 patients aged <18 years, who underwent liver transplantation (LT), were divided into two groups: patients who underwent renal replacement therapy (RRT) (group R, n = 25, 11.2%) and those who did not (group N, n = 199, 88.

Comparison of optical low coherence interferometry and Scheimpflug imaging combined with partial coherence interferometry biometers in cataract eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the agreement between measurements by optical low-coherence interferometry (OLCI, Aladdin) and those by Scheimpflug imaging combined with partial coherence interferometry (Scheimpflug-PCI, Pentacam AXL) in cataract patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study conducted in the United Arab Emirates. Axial length (AL), corneal power (keratometry, K), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and corneal astigmatism in patients with cataracts were measured with both devices.

Anatomical classification and clinical outcomes of biliary strictures in living donor liver transplantation using right liver grafts.

This study aimed to classify the anatomical types of biliary strictures, including intrahepatic biliary stricture (IHBS), after living donor liver transplantations (LDLTs) using right liver grafts and evaluate their prognosis. Among 692 adult patients who underwent right liver LDLT, 198 recipients with biliary strictures (28.6%) were retrospectively reviewed.

Feasibility and safety of a novel 3D-printed biodegradable biliary stent in an in vivo porcine model: a preliminary study.

To assess the feasibility and safety of a novel 3D-printed biodegradable biliary stent using polycaprolactone (PCL) in an in vivo porcine model. In this animal study using domestic pigs, biodegradable radiopaque biliary stents made of polycaprolactone (PCL) and barium sulfate were produced using 3D printing and surgically inserted into the common bile duct (CBD) of pigs (stent group, n = 12). Another five pigs were allocated to the control group that only underwent resection and anastomosis of the CBD without stent insertion.

Progression of a persisting mesenchymal hamartoma to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma 24 years after the initial diagnosis: A case report.

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver (MHL) is a rare benign tumor that often presents in early childhood, and it rarely occurs in adulthood. Aberrant development of the portal tract is a known cause of MHL. Although limited information is available on the natural course of MHL, malignant transformation has been reported in a few cases.

Early experiences with developing techniques for pure laparoscopic explant hepatectomy in living donor liver transplantation.

In recent years, laparoscopic techniques for liver resection or living donor hepatectomy have become common surgical methods. However, reports on laparoscopic surgeries for recipients are lacking. Our center has launched the minimally invasive living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) program in March 2020, which is led by two surgeons who are experienced in laparoscopic surgeries.

Changes in Indices of Steatosis and Fibrosis in Liver Grafts of Living Donors After Weight Reduction.

Background: A short-term weight reduction program for potential living donors was introduced to reduce the extent of hepatic steatosis prior to liver transplantation. We aimed to investigate changes in non-invasive hepatic steatosis and fibrosis indices among those who completed the program.

Methods: Among 1,950 potential living liver donors between January 2011 and May 2019, 160 living donors joined the weight reduction program.

Impact of tumor size on hepatectomy outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma: a nationwide propensity score matching analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcomes after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to tumor size using a large, nationwide cancer registry-based cohort and propensity score matching.

Methods: From 2008 to 2015, a total of 12,139 patients were diagnosed with liver cancer and registered in the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry. Patients without distant metastasis who underwent hepatectomy as a primary treatment were selected.

Hepatitis B immunoglobulin prophylaxis for hepatitis B infection in liver transplantation: a 30-year experience.

Background: Donors positive for hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) are an important source of organs in hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemic areas despite the risk of occult infection. We analyzed the long-term outcomes of hepatitis B immunoglobulin in HBV prevention following liver transplantation (LT) using HBcAb-positive grafts.

Methods: The prospectively collected data from 2,201 recipients at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) and Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center between 1988 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

Laparoscopic donor and recipient hepatectomy followed by robot-assisted liver graft implantation in living donor liver transplantation.

Minimally invasive surgery has been introduced for liver transplantations. Although laparoscopic or robot-assisted living donor hepatectomy is being used, minimally invasive surgery is rarely performed in recipients during liver transplantation. A 63-year-old patient (body mass index: 21.

Pure Laparoscopic vs. Open Right Hepatectomy in Living Liver Donors: Bench-Surgery Time.

Recently, there have been several reports on pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy (PLDRH), but the effect of pure laparoscopy on bench surgery has not been evaluated. This study aimed to compare bench-surgery time between PLDRH and conventional donor right hepatectomy (CDRH). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 758 live liver donors between January 2012 and December 2019.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome in liver transplantation.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction that causes skin abnormalities and mucosal involvement of the entire body. This is a case report of DRESS occurring in a liver transplantation recipient after taking drugs. A 57-year-old female patient with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent living donor liver transplantation in April 2019.

Different Risk Factors for Early and Late Recurrence After Curative Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Factors of early and late recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be different. The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors, including liver stiffness measurement (LSM), which are associated with HCC recurrence after curative resection.

Methods: Patients who underwent preoperative LSM and primary curative resection for HCC between October 2015 and May 2018 were retrospectively reviewed, with 1 year as the cut-off between early and late recurrence.

LigaSure versus monopolar cautery for recipient hepatectomy in liver transplantation: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Recipient hepatectomy during liver transplantation (LT) is one of the most challenging aspects of surgery due to the possibility of massive bleeding. This study aimed to compare and analyze the effectiveness between LigaSure and monopolar cautery in recipients.

Methods: We reviewed 187 recipients who underwent LT from March 2019 to June 2020.

Impact of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease allocation system on outcomes of deceased donor liver transplantation: A single-center experience.

Backgrounds/aims: From June of 2016, the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD)-based allocation system replaced the Child- Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score-based system for organ allocation liver in Korea. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in outcomes and arising issues before and after the implementation of the MELD system.

Methods: From June 2014 to June 2018, 129 patients were selected from recipients who underwent deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) in Seoul National University Hospital.