Liver resection in liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND: Liver resection after liver transplantation is a relatively uncommon procedure. Indications for liver resection include hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), non-anastomotic biliary stricture (ischemic biliary lesions), liver abscess, liver trauma and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Organ shortage and lower survival after re-transplantation have encouraged us to make attempts at graft salvage. METHODS: Eleven resections at a mean of 59 months after liver transplantation were made over 18 years. Indications for liver resection included HCC recurrence in 4 patients, ischemic cholangiopathy, segmental HAT, sepsis and infected hematoma in 2 each, and ischemic segment IV after split liver transplantation in 1. RESULTS: There was no perioperative mortality. Morbidity included one re-laparotomy for small bowel perforation, one bile leak treated conservatively, one right subphrenic collection, one wound infection and 5 episodes of Gram-negative sepsis. One patient underwent re-transplantation 4 months after resection for chronic rejection. There were 3 deaths, two from HCC recurrence and one from post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. The overall mean follow-up after resection was 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: Liver resection in liver transplant recipients is safe, and has good outcome in selected patients and avoids re-transplantation in the majority of patients. Recipients with recurrent HCC in graft may benefit from resection, but cure is uncommon.