Canine 27% orthotopic liver transplantation: The effect of portal decompression on survival

The minimal graft volume still remains unclear in partial liver transplantation (PLT). The purpose of this study was to determine whether portal decompression with the aid of a portahepatic vein shunt (PHVS) could improve survival in the extremely reduced size liver transplantation in dogs. After donor hepatectomy, the liver was reduced to 27% of the recipient whole liver consisting of the right lateral and caudate lobes. The reducted grafts with PHVS (group A,n = 6) or without PHVS (group B,n = 6) were orthotopically transplanted. All group A animals survived more than 3 days (the longest: 7 days), whereas all group B animals died within 48 h (P