Piggyback Technique with and without Inferior Vena Cava Cross- Clamping for Orthotopic Liver Transplant

This study aimed to compare the piggyback technique with and without inferior vena cava cross-clamping (IVC-CC). Between 2002 and 2005 at two Hospitals in Brazil, 136 patients were submitted to orthotopic liver transplant (OLT), but 36 were excluded due to the employment of different techniques. Depending on the piggyback technique em- ployed, the remaining 100 patients were divided into two groups: Group A (with IVC-CC) = 47 patients; and Group B (without IVC-CC) = 53 patients. The study revealed that the OLT using piggyback with IVC-CC took less time (1.39 hours) and required less blood transfusion, however a higher dosis of noradrenaline administration was necessary. No sta- tistical differences were observed between the two groups regarding hemodynamic parameters during the surgery, or any impairment of the kidney and liver functions in the early post-operative period. In conclusion, the piggyback with IVC- CC required less surgical time and less units of blood transfusion.