Long-term survival after 67 hours of anhepatic state due to primary liver allograft nonfunction

Abstract

Primary liver allograft nonfunction immediately after transplantation poses a life-threatening situation for the recipient. Emergency retransplantation may not be immediately possible due to organ unavailability. Total hepatectomy with temporary portacaval shunt has been described as a bridge to retransplantation when the presence of the graft appears to be harming the recipient. Case reports of retransplantation after total hepatectomy with anhepatic times greater than 48 hours routinely describe poor outcomes. We present a case with excellent patient outcome after 95 hours of clinical anhepatic state, including 67 hours of anatomical anhepatic time, because of primary liver allograft nonfunction. This case report documents the longest anhepatic time with subsequent successful transplant to date.