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

Abstract

Paediatric Intestinal Transplantation (IT) presents the high-est 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 twin-to-twin LDIT was carried out with a 160-cm mid-ileum tract: an interposed 4/5-cm arterial graft was required to ensure a tension-free 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.