Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mureo Kasahara, Johnny C. Hong, Anil Dhawan
Summary: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an alternative treatment approach that can reduce waiting list mortality and increase the pool of donors. It has been increasingly used for familial hereditary liver diseases. There are certain indications and contraindications for living donors in paediatric parental LDLT. While heterozygous donors have shown no mortality or morbidity related to the recurrence of metabolic diseases, there are exceptions for specific cases and risks associated with donor human leukocyte antigen homozygosity. Genetic and enzymatic assays should be considered in the parental donor selection criteria in certain circumstances.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Whitney E. Jackson, Alyson Kaplan, Jessica L. Saben, Michael S. Kriss, Jaime Cisek, Benjamin Samstein, AnnMarie Liapakis, Anjana A. Pillai, Robert S. Brown, Elizabeth A. Pomfret
Summary: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an effective solution for the organ shortage in the US, but there is limited understanding of the medical evaluation practices for living liver donors. A survey was conducted on all 53 active LDLT transplant programs in the US, revealing consensus on certain criteria such as minimum age and exclusion of obese donors, while variations existed in areas like acceptance of donors with diabetes mellitus. The findings highlight the need for data generation to develop evidence-based guidelines for the evaluation and risk assessment of living liver donors.
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yaprak Sarigol Ordin, Arzu Kader Harmanci Seren, Ozgul Karayurt, Gulay Aksu Kul, Murat Kilic, Cemal Ata Bozoklar, Yaman Tokat
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the risk factors affecting the psychosocial outcomes of living liver donors after liver transplantations. The findings suggest that gender, marital status, financial status, and education levels are closely associated with psychosocial outcomes. Furthermore, the financial status is the main factor affecting each psychosocial variable.
TURKISH JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sajid Jalil, Sylvester M. Black, Ken Washburn, Neil Rangwani, Alice Hinton, Sean G. Kelly, Lanla Conteh, James Hanje, Anthony Michaels, Khalid Mumtaz
Summary: The study found that the trend of living liver donor surgeries in the United States is stable, with low readmission rates and fewer complications. However, older age and undergoing surgery at small to medium-sized hospitals may lead to longer hospital stays and higher costs. Male donors may have a higher risk of complications. Living liver donors could potentially serve as a valuable source for liver transplantation in the United States amid changing organ allocation policies.
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Federica Vernuccio, Susan A. Whitney, Kadiyala Ravindra, Daniele Marin
Summary: Preoperative cross-sectional imaging evaluation in potential living liver donors plays a crucial role in excluding high-risk donors, ensuring a suitable graft for the recipient, and minimizing the risk of complications for both the donor and recipient. CT and MR imaging are essential in assessing hepatic parenchyma, vascular anatomy, biliary anatomy, and liver volume for living liver donation.
ABDOMINAL RADIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Wen Fang, Momoko Noda, Kunihito Gotoh, Yuki Morooka, Takehiro Noda, Shogo Kobayashi, Yuichiro Doki, Hidetoshi Eguchi, Koji Umeshita
Summary: Through a retrospective review of 220 living liver donors, it was found that male donors with a high BMI immediately before surgery and a history of treatment for preoperative fatty liver were more likely to develop postoperative fatty liver, which often showed refractoriness to weight loss intervention.
TRANSPLANT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Chuan Huang, Qi-Lin Wang, Hui-Lan Wu, Zeng-Hui Huang, Xin-Zong Zhang, Wen-Bing Zhu
Summary: This study aims to investigate genetic screening practices at sperm banks in China and evaluate the qualifications and skills of genetic counselors. The results of the survey showed that some sperm banks were able to accommodate patients' requests for specific genetic tests, but there is a need for larger scale genetic testing and a wider panel of tests specific to the Chinese population. Professionally trained geneticists should be employed as genetic counselors to explain the results of genetic tests and their implications to sperm donors.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Jinsoo Rhu, Gyu-Seong Choi, Jong Man Kim, Choon Hyuck David Kwon, Jae-Won Joh
Summary: This study analyzed the incidence and risk factors for surgical morbidities of laparoscopic living donors. The results showed that laparoscopic living donor surgery is safe for the majority of donors, and proper management can resolve critical complications. To minimize bile leakage, cautious surgical manipulation is needed for donors with complex hilar anatomy.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Adem Kose, Sibel Altunisik Toplu, Sami Akbulut, Seyma Yasar, Kemal Baris Sarici, Yucel Duman, Ramazan Kutlu, Burak Isik, Yusuf Ziya Colak, Sezai Yilmaz, Yasar Bayindir
Summary: This study analyzed postoperative infections in 1106 living liver donors, finding that infections mainly originated from the biliary system and highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Hayley Miller, Kimberly Ward, Sheryl Zimmerman
Summary: A simple how-to guide of evidence-based care practices was developed, and staff in four assisted living communities were trained, with the effectiveness and challenges of implementation evaluated. After two months, staff reported increased familiarity, confidence, and use of the practices, along with barriers such as difficulty locating supplies. Significant differences were found across communities, suggesting the need for tailored practices based on community characteristics.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jin Yong Choi, Jae Heon Kim, Jong Man Kim, Hyun Jung Kim, Hyeong Sik Ahn, Jae-Won Joh
Summary: Investigation based on Korean NHIS database found higher mortality rates and more severe medical conditions in living liver donors compared to matched control groups.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yoonseong Lee, Seok Young Koh, Jae Hyun Kim, Jeongin Yoo, Hyojin Kang, Ijin Joo, Jeong Hee Yoon, Nam-joon Yi, Kwang-Woong Lee, Kyungsuk Suh, Jeong Min Lee
Summary: We aimed to demonstrate the clinical feasibility of our comprehensive preoperative MR protocol for the preoperative assessment of living liver donor candidates. CT and MR angiography showed a good agreement, and combining T2-weighted and T1-weighted MR cholangiography techniques detected all biliary anatomical variations. MR volumetry reached an excellent agreement with CT volumetry. Our comprehensive liver donor MR imaging protocol can provide complete information regarding hepatic vascular and biliary anatomies, hepatic parenchymal quality, and liver volume for living liver donor candidates.
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ya-Lan Hsu, Chia-En Hsieh, Ping-Yi Lin, Shin-Lung Lin, Kuo-Hua Lin, Li-Chueh Weng, Yao-Li Chen
Summary: Male living liver donors are more likely to have cosmetically displeasing upper midline incision scars. Overall, scars have a significant impact on body image, with donors who are more satisfied with their scar appearance usually having higher levels of self-confidence.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Jason E. Goldstick, Rebecca M. Cunningham, Patrick M. Carter
Summary: Firearm-related injury has become the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States. We have failed to protect our youth from this preventable cause of death.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Okjoo Lee, Jong Man Kim, Sang Jin Kim, Jinsoo Rhu, Gyu-Seong Choi, Jae-Won Joh
Summary: This study found that spousal donation is feasible and safe in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Compared with donations from children, spousal donors had shorter operation time and lower complication rate, and the overall survival of recipients was not reduced.
WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Samantha Huang, Artur Fahradyan, Aaron Ahearn, Navpreet Kaur, Linda Sher, Yuri Genyk, Juliet Emamaullee, Ketan Patel, Joseph N. Carey
Summary: This study reports the institutional experience of using microvascular hepatic artery reconstruction (MHAR) in adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The results showed lower rates of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and graft failure after implementing MHAR, although statistical significance was not achieved. Larger cohort studies are needed to further evaluate the potential benefits of MHAR in adult LDLT.
JOURNAL OF RECONSTRUCTIVE MICROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Muhammad H. Raza, Yong Kwon, Pierre Kobierski, Asish C. Misra, Angelina Lim, Cameron Goldbeck, Kambiz Etesami, Rohit Kohli, Juliet Emamaullee
Summary: Hepatopulmonary syndrome is associated with increased waitlist mortality in liver transplantation candidates. This study examined the impact of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease/Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD/PELD) exception policy on post-transplant survival in children. The study found that children with HPS have a slightly lower survival rate at 5 years compared to those without HPS.
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Arianna Barbetta, Brittany Rocque, Deepika Sarode, Johanna Ascher Bartlett, Juliet Emamaullee
Summary: Solid organ transplantation is the standard treatment for end-stage organ disease, but the most frequent complication is allograft rejection. Reliable biomarkers for detecting rejection episodes are currently lacking. Emerging single-cell technologies provide new opportunities to study allograft rejection and tolerance, but expertise in computational biology is required to handle the large datasets.
SEMINARS IN IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Sujit Kulkarni, Ralitza Parina, Randy Henderson, Elika Derek, Taylor Selby, Yong Kwon, Juliet Emamaullee, Linda Sher, Yuri Genyk, Rick Selby
Summary: The objective of this study is to describe the techniques and prove the feasibility of performing complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery on a Jehovah Witness (JW) population, and propose a strategy to offset surgical blood loss. A retrospective review of JW patients undergoing liver and pancreatic resections was performed, and perioperative management and patient outcomes were described. The study concludes that deliberate perioperative management makes transfusion-free liver and pancreatic resections feasible.
Article
Immunology
Anushka Das, Brittany Rocque, Daphne Remulla, Muhammad Raza, Arianna Barbetta, Sarah Bangerth, Cameron Goldbeck, Thin Thin Maw, Jim Kim, Yong Kwon, Juliet Emamaullee
Summary: This study assessed the impact of DSA on outcomes following primary SLKT and found that testing DSA does not affect SLKT outcomes, but further multicenter analyses are needed to establish standard of care.
Review
Surgery
Serkan Sucu, Kerem E. Basarir, Plamen Mihaylov, Emre Balik, Jason T. C. Lee, Jonathan A. Fridell, Juliet A. Emamaullee, Burcin Ekser
Summary: The gut microbiota is closely related to liver transplantation, and dysbiosis, antibiotic use, surgical stress, and immunosuppressive drugs can all affect the success of liver transplantation.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Correction
Surgery
Juliet Emamaullee, Julie K. Heimbach, Kim M. Olthoff, Elizabeth A. Pomfret, John P. Roberts, Nazia Selzner
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Letter
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Burcin Ekser, Serkan Sucu, Plamen Mihaylov, Juliet A. Emamaullee
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Gerald Scott Winder, Erin G. Clifton, Anne C. Fernandez, Mark MacEachern, Sarah Andrews, Ponni Perumalswami, Andrea F. DiMartini, Jessica L. Mellinger
Summary: Alcohol is closely related to liver disease and transplantation. Clinical evaluations and decisions in this area are challenging due to the complexity of psychosocial assessments and interpretation of psychiatric and substance use disorder data. Acute alcohol-associated hepatitis (AAH) patients have unique characteristics such as recent or active substance use, high mortality rate, psychiatric comorbidities, and urgent evaluation and treatment timelines. This systematic review highlights the lack of standardized definition and measurement of alcohol-associated insight (AAI) in the evaluation and decision-making process for AAH patients undergoing early liver transplantation (eLT).
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Sean P. Martin, Christine Lum, Kara Kushwaha, Cameron Goldbeck, Yong Kwon, Kambiz Etesami, Jim Kim, Juliet Emamaullee, Shannon M. Zielsdorf
Summary: This study aims to evaluate post-kidney transplant complications in patients with a history of prolonged dialysis. The study found that in high-risk patients with prolonged dialysis and anuria, the rate of technical urinary tract complications remained low.
Review
Pediatrics
Jason T. C. Lee, Deepika Sarode, Juliet A. Emamaullee
Summary: Combined heart-liver transplantation (CHLT) is a promising technique to address end-stage organ failure in patients with concomitant heart failure and chronic liver disease. It has emerged as a growing indication for pediatric CHLT, particularly in children born with univentricular congenital heart disease who underwent the Fontan procedure and developed Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD).
PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Surgery
Brittany Rocque, Sarah Bangerth, Janet Kim, Arianna Barbetta, Deepika Sarode, Juliet Emamaullee
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Gerald Scott Winder, Anne C. Fernandez, Ponni V. Perumalswami, Jessica L. Mellinger, Erin G. Clifton
Summary: Psychosocial and nonmedical phenomena are common in liver transplantation evaluations and pose challenges to clinicians. There is a lack of consensus among clinicians and centers regarding psychosocial policies and practices. This article proposes a framework for psychosocial evaluation procedures, identifies common pitfalls, and suggests practical improvement strategies.
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
