Self-assessment of postoperative scars in living liver donors

[Clark]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ctr.12226/abstract

Self-assessment of postoperative scars in living liver donors
Hajime Imamura, Akihiko Soyama, Mitsuhisa Takatsuki, Izumi Muraoka, Takanobu Hara, Izumi Yamaguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Ayaka Kinos***a, Tamotsu Kuroki, Susumu Eguchi*
Article first published online: 2 SEP 2013
DOI: 10.1111/ctr.12226

Clinical Transplantation
Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

Abstract

Background
The application of less invasive techniques for liver surgery in patients undergoing living donor hepatectomy (LDH) has been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate physical status according to type of incision in donors.

Methods
One hundred and forty-seven living liver donors underwent hepatectomy using three types of incisions: (i) Mercedes-Benz incision (M.B.), (ii) right subcostal incision with midline up to xiphoid incision (S.C.), and (iii) short upper midline incision (U.M.). A total of 100 donors answered the questionnaires, and 87 had sufficient data for the analyses. An original questionnaire designed to evaluate the physical status concerning postoperative scars. The questionnaire consisted of three major categories: appearance, sensation, and daily activities. The univariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test.

Results
Numbness of the abdominal wall was reported more frequently by the donor with M.B.s and right subcostal incisions up to xiphoid incisions. In terms of appearance, sensation, and daily activities, LDH with a U.M. was found to have a good self-assessment compared with that performed using other types of incisions.

Conclusions
LDH with a U.M. is a preferable procedure in terms of physical status and safety.