BACKGROUND: Patients with short bowel syndrome may require combined liver and intestinal transplantation due to total parenteral nutrition(TPN)-related liver damage. We report combined liver and intestinal allotransplantation as a non-composite technique in a patient in China.
METHODS: During the operation, a 380 cm long intestine was transplanted with systemic drainage and aortic inflow, while the liver graft was placed in a piggyback fashion. Warm ischemic time of the donor graft was 2 minutes and 30 seconds, and cold ischemic time for intestinal and the liver graft was 6 hours and 40 minutes and 8 hours and 7 minutes, respectively. Immunosuppressants used after operation included tacrolimus, methylprednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil and Zenapax.
RESULTS: The recipient recovered with no evidence of rejection and was kept well on tube feeding. Eventually, he died of massive hemorrhage of the thoracic cavity on day 210 after transplantation.
CONCLUSION: The non-composite combined liver and intestinal allotransplantation is superior to composite technique in adult patients, particularly those who have had abdominal infection or repeated abdominal operations.