Abstract
BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgeries are increasingly central to modern medicine, particularly in liver transplantation. These techniques, which offer reduced trauma, precise operations, minimal bleeding, and swift recovery, are, however, unevenly adopted across China. Only a limited number of centers routinely perform minimally invasive donor hepatectomies, indicating a significant imbalance in the development and application of these advanced procedures. Additionally, there lacks a set of standardized guidelines that are tailored to meet China's unique healthcare challenges and conditions. METHODS: In August 2023, the Branch of Organ Transplant of Chinese Medical Association and the Branch of Organ Transplant Physicians of Chinese Medical Doctor Association convened a group of national liver transplantation experts to establish a guideline development committee. This committee conducted a thorough review of relevant literature, evaluated existing guidelines and consensus, and assessed factors such as the evidence base, patient preferences, and the cost-effectiveness of interventions within China. After multiple rounds of discussions, both online and offline, the committee finalized the guidelines. RESULTS: This collaborative effort led to the creation of the "Chinese guidelines for minimally invasive donor hepatectomy in living donor liver transplantation (2024 edition)". These guidelines address crucial aspects such as the safety and advantages of minimally invasive surgery for living donor liver transplantation, donor selection criteria, anesthesia strategies, surgical technical details, and learning curves associated with these procedures, resulting in a comprehensive set of 26 recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The formulation of these guidelines represents a significant advancement towards standardizing minimally invasive liver transplantation surgeries in China. They are designed to enhance outcomes for both donors and recipients by synthesizing expert consensus with contemporary research and clinical practices. Moreover, they serve as a crucial reference for surgeons and medical institutions, promoting the refinement and adoption of minimally invasive surgical techniques in liver transplantation.