Donor safety in adult living donor liver transplantation using the right lobe: Single center experience in China

AIM: To evaluate the safety of donors in adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using the right lobe in a single liver transplantation center in China. METHODS: We investigated retrospectively 52 living donor liver resections performed from October 2003 to July 2006. All patients were evaluated by blood tests and abdominal CT. The mean donor age was 28.2 ± 7.4 years. Residual liver volume was 42.1% ± 4.7%. Mean operative time was 420 ± 76.2 min; mean ICU stay, less than 36 h; mean hospital stay, 16.4 ± 8.6 d; and mean follow-up period, 6 mo. RESULTS: There was no mortality. The overall complication rate was 40% (21 donors). Major complications included biliary leak in two, and pneumonia in 2 donors. Minor complications included mild pleural effusion in 12 donors, transient ascites in 6, mild depression in 4, intra-abdominal collections in 2, and wound infections in 1 donor. Residual liver volume did not affect the complication rate. None required re- operation. Return to pre-donation activity occurred within 5-8 wk. CONCLUSION: Right hemi-hepatectomy can be performed safely with minimal risk in cases of careful donor selection. Major complications occurred in only 7.7% of our series.