BACKGROUND: Recently, numerous right hepatectomies for living-related liver transplantation are being performed safely. However, donors rarely exposed to sustained hepatic dysfunction or hepatic failure. Liver volume is one of the important considerations of recipient and donor safety after transplantation. Therefore, we analyzed postoperative liver function test results in relation to residual liver volume fraction (%RLV) in right lobe donors.

METHODS: The charts, anesthetic records and computerized hospital data of 124 donors registered for LRLT from April 2000 to September 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Donors were divided into two groups: %RLV < 40% (group S, n = 41) and %RLV ≥ 40% (group L, n = 83). Residual liver volume, blood loss, fluids and blood administered, surgical and anesthetic times, and postoperative hospital stay were investigated. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), prothrombin time (PT), and total bilirubin (TB) were analyzed before and immediately after operation, and on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 30.

RESULTS: No significant differences in donor characteristics, blood loss, surgical and anesthetic times, or in postoperative hospital stay were observed between group S and group L. No significant differences in perioperative AST, ALT, PT, or TB were observed between two groups, and no correlation was observed between the postoperative peak liver function test levels and %RLV.

CONCLUSIONS: The residual liver volume fraction did not correspond with liver function test results after donor right hepatectomy. Therefore, it is difficult to predict postoperative liver function by using residual liver volume fraction.