Auxiliary two-staged partial resection liver transplantation

A case report of two patients who underwent auxiliary liver transplantation and two staged hepatectomy was recently published in BMC Surgery. The surgical technique utilised is described as novel but has been published previously also in the setting of chronic liver disease. A new name for this surgical approach therefore seems redundant. The importance of careful hemodynamic monitoring of pressure and flow in the portal vein and artery of the auxiliary graft as well as optimizing venous outflow is paramount to ensure graft regeneration and avoid small for size syndrome. The relevant surgical considerations to ensure optimal safety has also been reported in previous literature. This brief letter to the editor of BMC Surgery gives an overview that put the article content in context with published literature on this transplant surgical technique.