Orthotopic nonauxiliary homotransplantation of part of the liver in dogs.

An experimental study was carried out investigating the feasibility of using only a portion of a donor liver in orthotopic, nonauxiliary transplantation, establishing a canine model. After being totally hepatectomized, 20 immunosuppressed adult beagles received a 60% donor liver graft, derived from tissue-typed identical littermates. Preservation time was 5 hr. In control experiments, 10 beagles, only half of them immunosuppressed, underwent an operation involving complete liver mobilization, vascular exclusion, cooling of the liver in situ, and a 40% partial hepatectomy with biliary anastomosis. The surgical procedure, including the method of cooling and preservation, is described in detail. Survival rate amounted to 90% for the control group and 50% for the transplanted group, while all surviving dogs were sacrificed 24 wk postoperatively. At sacrifice, the liver weight amounted to the weight of the total native liver at operation. Body weight profiles reflect good general condition of the surviving dogs. No major differences were noted between the immunosuppressed and the nonimmunosuppressed control dogs. No complications were related to the fact that only a partial liver was grafted or left in situ.