Splenic Artery Ligation: Effects on Portal Flow and Hypersplenism in Living Donor Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been shown to be safe in the curative treatment of liver cirrhosis. Portal flow modulation techniques, such as splenic artery ligation (SAL), have been used to avoid complications like small-for-size syndrome (SFSS). However, the effects of SAL on portal flow, splenic function, and hematologic outcomes remain underexplored. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study analyzed 60 LDLT recipients treated at a single center from January 2023 to December 2024. Thirty patients underwent SAL (SAL+) while 30 did not undergo SAL (SAL-). Data on demographic and clinical characteristics, portal flow dynamics, spleen volume, hematologic parameters, and postoperative complications were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS 20.0. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS SAL significantly reduced portal flow from 3148±989 mL/min to 1949±830 mL/min (P<0.001), optimizing the portal flow/graft weight ratio. SAL also decreased splenic volume by 21% and alleviated thrombocytopenia, with postoperative platelet counts increasing 3.8-fold compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). There were fewer complications in the SAL+ group, with significant reductions in biliary complications and improved graft function. No severe ischemic splenic changes or thromboembolic events were observed in the SAL+ group. CONCLUSIONS SAL is an effective strategy for portal flow modulation in LDLT, significantly reducing portal flow to optimal levels and improving hematologic outcomes. By preserving splenic function and minimizing complications, SAL is a safe and beneficial approach to managing SFSS and improving graft performance in LDLT patients.