Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with late-onset portal vein stenosis after living donor liver transplantation

Transpl Int. 2009 Dec;22(12):1151-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2009.00932.x. Epub 2009 Aug 3.

Abstract

Portal vein stenosis (PVS) after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a serious complication that can lead to graft failure. Few studies of the diagnosis and treatment of late-onset (> or = 3 months after liver transplantation) PVS have been reported. One hundred thirty-three pediatric (median age 7.6 years, range 1.3-26.8 years) LDLT recipients were studied. The patients were followed by Doppler ultrasound (every 3 months) and multidetector helical computed tomography (once a year). Twelve patients were diagnosed with late-onset PVS 0.5-6.9 years after LDLT. All cases were successfully treated with balloon dilatation. Five cases required multiple treatments. Early diagnosis of late-onset PVS and interventional radiology therapy treatment may prevent graft loss.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Portal Vein / physiopathology*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Radiology, Interventional / methods
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Diseases / etiology*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants