Orthotopic partial liver transplantation in dogs can be performed without cold perfusion of the donor liver. Evaluation of its feasibility in terms of energy metabolism.

To investigate the feasibility of obtaining grafts from living, genetically related adult donors without any complicated harvesting techniques, orthotopic partial liver transplantation (PLT) without cold perfusion of the donor graft was evaluated in beagles by assessing the graft viability using ketone body ratio (KBR). Ten PLT were performed under venovenous bypass. The left half of the donor liver was transected in situ followed by systemic heparinization, and immediately implanted with care taken to leave the recipient's inferior vena cava intact, and to maintain the normothermic state without cold perfusion. Four of ten dogs survived for 5 days or longer (longest survival was 9 days) and died of other causes than graft dysfunction. Four others died of thromboembolitic episode, accidental bleeding or technical failure. Two dogs died of graft dysfunction. The changes in KBR in 5 dogs without fatal complications after transplantation were maintained within normal range thereafter. These results suggest that the PLT without cold perfusion of donor graft is possible from the viewpoint of energy metabolism.