Intestinal twin-to-twin transplant for short gut: Review of the literature and discussion of a complex case

Ugolini, S; Coletta, R; Morabito, A

Abstract

Paediatric Intestinal Transplantation (IT) presents the highest mortality on the waiting-list due to anatomical disproportion. Living-Donor IT (LDIT) offers the best advantages and when performed among identical monozygotic twins, it also benefits from unique immunology. According to MEDLINE/Pubmed, twin-to-twin LDIT has been performed in seven cases (6:7 males, median age of 32 years). None of the patients received immunosuppression postoperatively. Only one paediatric twinto- twin LDIT was carried out with a 160-cm mid-ileum tract: an interposed 4/5-cm arterial graft was required to ensure a tensionfree anastomosis to the anterior wall of the infra-renal abdominal aorta. In contrast, venous anastomosis was done directly to the inferior cava vein. We present a case for debate of a 13- month-old SBS patient where a twin-LDIT was discussed with parents, who decided to wait after careful analysis and ethical considerations.

Citation

Ugolini, S., Coletta, R., & Morabito, A. (2022). Intestinal twin-to-twin transplant for short gut: Review of the literature and discussion of a complex case. Pediatria Medica e Chirurgica, 44(2), https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2022.287

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 19, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 18, 2022
• Deposit Date: Dec 7, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 7, 2022
• Journal: La Pediatria medica e chirurgica : Medical and surgical pediatrics
• Print ISSN: 0391-5387
• Electronic ISSN: 2420-7748
• Publisher: PAGEpress
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2022.287
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2022.287