Ann Liver Transplant.  2022 May;2(1):48-55. 10.52604/alt.22.0009.

Usability of cryopreserved homologous great saphenous vein for hepatobiliarypancreatic surgery and living donor liver transplantation

• Jung DH
• Hwang S
• Bae JH
• Kim IO

• KMID: 2560881
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52604/alt.22.0009

Abstract

The great saphenous vein (GSV) is the longest vein in the human body. Because of the small diameter of the GSV, the clinical use of homologous GSV allografts has yet not been reported worldwide. In the present study, we present our early experience with the employment of cryopreserved homologous GSV allografts in hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery and liver transplantation. Recently, the Korea Public Tissue Bank (KPTB) initiated harvesting of GSV allografts from deceased donors, thereby making cryopreserved GSVs available for clinical practice. The cryopreserved GSVs can be used in three forms. First, it can be enlarged through parallel paneling, in which the paneled GSV patch can be used for patch venoplasty of portal vein reconstruction during hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. Second, spiral winding or the GSV can make a large-caliber conduit, which can be used for interposition venoplasty of portal vein reconstruction during hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. The third is the use of a short GSV segment per se for hepatic vein venoplasty during living donor liver transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on the clinical use of cryopreserved homologous GSV allografts in the field of hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery and liver transplantation. In conclusion, cryopreserved GSV allografts are proposed as useful vascular materials that can be employed for hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery and living donor liver transplantation in the forms of GSV segment itself, paneled vein patch, and spirally winded vein conduit.

Keyword

Great saphenous vein; Cryopreservation; Interposition; Homologous vein; Patency