Clinical outcomes of Ex Vivo liver resection and liver autotransplantation for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis

The effectiveness of liver autotransplantation for patients with partial hepatic alveolar echinococcosis was analyzed. We retrospectively studied 6 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis who underwent liver autotransplantation in our hospital from 2008 to 2010. We also summarized the surgical indications of liver autotransplantation for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and our experience in the management of postoperative complications of liver autotransplantation. Of 6 patients, 5 achieved good curative results, and one died of multiple organ failure caused by portal vein thrombosis. Main complications included postoperative bleeding, bile leak and small-for-size liver graft syndrome. Liver autotransplantation offers a new approach to cure hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with non-resectable lesions. It could be the most effective method to cure intractable hepatic alveolar echinococcosis if correct handling in operation and proper prevention of complications are performed. But the long-term outcomes are still needed to be confirmed in longer follow-up.