[Reconstruction of the venous outflow in liver transplantation using the "piggyback" technique]

The piggyback technique in venous outflow tract reconstruction has been proposed as an alternative to the conventional technique in liver transplantation. Between November 1994 and November 1997 this technique was used in 29 patients in our institute. Most of the patients were operated on without veno-venous bypass and we observed no complications concerning venous outflow tract reconstruction and no renal failure. Hemodynamic measurements during the operation showed only an insignificant decrease in cardiac index during the partial clamp on the inferior vena cava. The piggyback technique proved to be a convenient and safe approach to the venous outflow tract reconstruction in a majority of liver transplantations and has been used routinely in our institute.