Recipient hepatectomy with preservation of inferior vena cava reduces the need for veno-venous bypass in liver transplantation.

Recipient hepatectomy with inferior vena cava (IVC) preservation, the piggy back (PGB) technique, was adopted as our routine option in the management of the anhepatic phase of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) to avoid the use of veno-venous bypass (VV-BP). In the last 5 years, 119 OLT in adult patients have been performed in our unit. In the first period (47 OLT), VV-BP was used in 59% of the cases and cross-clamping in the rest. In the second period, following the introduction of the PGB technique, 72 OLT were performed. VV-BP was used in 5.5% of the cases, PGB technique in 87.5% and cross-clamping in 6.9%. There was a significant reduction in the need for VV-BP in the second period. Operating time and blood transfusion were significantly greater in the VV-BP group. No PGB technique related complications were observed. In conclusion, the PGB technique reduced the need for VVBP with consequent savings in time, blood transfusion and the cost of OLT.