Portal hypertension after combined liver and intestinal transplantation, a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge?

Pediatr Transplant. 2012 Nov;16(7):E301-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2012.01670.x. Epub 2012 Mar 13.

Abstract

A widely accepted technique to transplant the liver-bowel bloc is first to perform a piggyback anastomosis of the donor suprahepatic vena cava to the recipient vena cava; second to restore the arterial blood supply through an aortic interposition graft; and third to ensure venous drainage of the native foregut. The venous drainage of the native foregut can be restored through an end-to-end portocaval anastomosis between the donor infrahepatic vena cava and the recipient portal vein. Stenosis of this anastomosis can lead to portal hypertension presenting with upper GI congestion, bleeding, and hypersplenism. We report the successful treatment of this complication using an e-PTFE-covered stent inserted following balloon angioplasty.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anastomosis, Surgical
  • Angioplasty, Balloon / methods
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Portal / etiology*
  • Intestinal Diseases / therapy*
  • Intestines / blood supply
  • Intestines / transplantation*
  • Liver / blood supply
  • Liver / surgery
  • Liver Failure / therapy*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene / chemistry
  • Portal Vein / surgery
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative / methods

Substances

  • Polytetrafluoroethylene