Long-term results of urgent revascularization for hepatic artery thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation

Liver Transpl. 2010 Jul;16(7):847-55. doi: 10.1002/lt.22063.

Abstract

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a serious complication resulting in bile duct necrosis and often requiring retransplantation. Immediate surgical thrombectomy/thrombolysis has been reported to be a potentially successful treatment for restoring blood flow and avoiding urgent retransplantation. The long-term results of this strategy remain to be determined. In 232 pediatric liver transplants, we analyzed long-term outcomes after urgent revascularization for early HAT. HAT developed in 32 patients (13.7%). In 16 children (50%), immediate surgical thrombectomy was performed in an attempt to salvage the graft. Fourteen patients (44%) underwent urgent retransplantation, and 2 (6%) died before further intervention. Immediate thrombectomy resulted in long-term restoration of the hepatic artery flow in 6 of 16 patients (38%) and in 1- and 5-year graft and patient survival rates of 83% and 67%, respectively. In 10 patients, revascularization was unsuccessful, and retransplantation was inevitable. The 1- and 5-year patient survival rates in this group decreased to 50% and 40%, respectively. After immediate retransplantation, the 5-year patient survival rate was 71%. In conclusion, immediate surgical thrombectomy for HAT after pediatric OLT results in long-term graft salvage in about one-third of patients. However, when thrombectomy is unsuccessful, long-term patient survival is lower than the survival of patients who underwent immediate retransplantation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Survival
  • Hepatic Artery / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Liver Transplantation / mortality
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate
  • Thrombectomy*
  • Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Thrombosis / surgery*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome