Utilization of split liver grafts in orthotopic liver transplantation

Among a total of 220 liver transplants, reduced-size liver was used in 21 cases due to discrepancies in size between recipient and donors in 19 patients. In the case of two adult patients suffering from fulminant hepatic failure and in a critical condition, only one donor organ became available, so that the graft was divided to give the two recipients an equal opportunity. The two patients with fulminant hepatic failure were admitted to the ICU requiring mechanical respiration almost at the same time. Hepatitis serologies were HBcAb+, HBsAb+, and VCA+ in one and negative in the second. They had different blood groups (A.Rh+, O.Rh-), and the only donor available was located in Milan, Italy. The graft perfused with UW. was divided into two (right side, segments IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, and left side, segments I, II and III). The recipients were transplanted 50 and 48 hours after admission. The cold ischemia time was 7.10 and 16.50 hours. The first patient, who received the right lobe, was extubated at 48 hours and discharged on the 40th postransplant day. The second patient remained unconscious with progressive deterioration; an EEG on the 4th day revealed absence of higher cortical function.