A comparison of right and left lobectomies for living donor liver transplantation: An anesthesiologist's point of view

Because of the shortage of cadaveric donor organs, living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become an established therapy modality for end-stage liver disease. Based on recipient size, both right and left liver lobe grafts have been used successfully in LDLT. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of intraoperative complications and transfusion requirements between right and left lobe donors. We reviewed the charts of 54 right lobe (Group RL), 29 left lobe (Group LL), and 31 left lateral segment (Group LLS) donors who underwent lobectomy from January 2003 through January 2007. We recorded patient demographics, perioperative laboratory values, intraoperative fluid and transfusion requirements, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, and complications. Demographic features and preoperative laboratory values were similar for the 3 groups, except for age (Group RL, 37.3+/-8.7; Group LL, 36.0+/-9.3; Group LLS, 31.7+/-9.4; P =.02). There were no significant differences in mean liver volumes among the groups (P >.05). Respective graft volumes were 803.1+/-139.2 mL, 438.0+/-122.7 mL, and 308.2+/-76.6 mL for Groups RL, LL, and LLS, respectively (P <.001). More patients in Group LLS required heterologous blood transfusion than did those in the other groups (P =.01). The incidence of intraoperative hypotension was similar for all groups (P >.05). Group RL had a significantly higher rate of intraoperative hypothermia than the other groups (P =.01.). There were no intraoperative respiratory complications or cardiac events. These results indicated that both right and left donor lobectomies for LDLT were safe procedures with acceptable rates of minor intraoperative complications.