Use of partial cardiopulmonary bypass during the anhepatic phase of orthotopic liver grafting.

Femoro-femoral partial cardiopulmonary bypass has been used in two patients under going orthotopic liver allografting who had severe cardiovascular disturbances on trial clamping of their venae cavae. Flows of 2-3 litres/min resulted in satisfactory cardiovascular control during the anhepatic phase in each ase. A third patient who tolerated caval clamping withstood the grafting without bypass. Having bypass available for use in critical cases could increase the safety of orthotopic liver transplantation.