CPT® Code 47144

Backbench standard preparation of cadaver donor whole liver graft prior to allotransplantation, including cholecystectomy, if necessary, and dissection and removal of surrounding soft tissues to prepare the vena cava, portal vein, hepatic artery, and common bile duct for implantation; with trisegment split of whole liver graft into 2 partial liver grafts (ie, left lateral segment [segments II and III] and right trisegment [segments I and IV through VIII])

The procedure described by CPT® Code 47144 involves the meticulous preparation of a cadaver donor's whole liver graft prior to its transplantation into a recipient. This process is commonly referred to as backbench or back table preparation. During this procedure, the liver may be received with or without the gallbladder attached. If the gallbladder is present, a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal, is performed as part of the preparation. The surrounding soft tissues are carefully dissected away to expose critical vascular structures, including the vena cava, portal vein, hepatic artery, and common bile duct, which are essential for successful implantation into the recipient. The preparation also includes the trisegment split of the whole liver graft into two partial liver grafts: the left lateral segment, which comprises segments II and III, and the right trisegment, which includes segments I and IV through VIII. This splitting technique allows for the potential transplantation of liver segments into two different patients, thereby maximizing the utility of the donor organ. The procedure is complex and requires precise surgical techniques to ensure that all vascular and biliary structures are adequately prepared for transplantation, which is critical for the success of the procedure and the health of the transplant recipients.