Evaluation of donor's liver regeneration after left lobe harvesting for living-related liver transplantation.

Abstract Background Computerized tomography–assisted volumetry permits one to estimate the volume of the liver graft as well as to monitor the regeneration in the donor for living- related liver transplantation (LRLT). Methods The size of the whole liver and of the segments II, III, and IV was assessed in 64 living-related liver donors by preoperative computerized tomography (CT) volumetry. Segments II and III were harvested in 56 cases; segments II, III, and IV in 8 cases. The remnant liver was assessed by CT volumetry on postoperative days 7 and 30. Results There was a linear correlation between the calculated volume of the graft and its weight (R = 0.61, P P Discussion It is possible that the donor liver displays a different pattern of growth due to the alteration in the blood supply to segment IV.