DIVISION OF DONOR LIVER FOR SUCCESSFUL SPLIT-LIVER TRANSPLANTATION INPIGS

Split Liver Transplantation (SLT) is an attractive method to solve the problem of a shortage of liver grafts. A through knowledge of the ana tomy of the porcine liver vessels and bile duct is essential in perfor ming the experimental SLT. This study was undertaken to decide the spl it line for successful SLT in pigs by examining the main branching pat terns both vessels and bile duct in 30 porcine livers macroscopically and angiographically. The hepatic arterial branching patterns were div ided into three types and bile duct patterns into two types. There was no exception in branching patterns of the portal vein and the hepatic vein. We conclude if is desirable that the donor liver should be divi ded into two grafts between the left medial lobe and quadrate lobe.