Robotic right donor hepatectomy with versus without partial middle hepatic vein: A Randomized Study

In adults, live donor liver transplantation, right lobe from the donor is usually harvested for implantation. The aim of right lobe donation to transect the liver parenchyma in relation with middle hepatic vein in such a way that there is good venous outflow in both the remnant donor liver as well as the recipient graft. Usually it varies in how much middle hepatic vein is retrieved with the donor. It can either retrieved partially or not at all. In both the cases, for good venous outflow from the graft there is need for reconstruction of the  tributaries draining in to the middle hepatic vein. In the grafts retrieved with partial middle hepatic vein reconstruction is easier and of shorter length while in those without middle heaptic vein it can be more difficult and sometimes can result in a longer graft. The patency of these grafts may vary but robust data regarding this is scarce.

Currently in our unit right lobe donation is harvested robotically. Whether harvesting middle hepatic vein partially or retrieving it without middle hepatic vein differ in terms of difficulties in robotic surgery practices is not known. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of robotic donor hepatectomies performed in two different ways, one with partial hepatic vein other without middle hepatic vein. As of now there is no such data available.