Hepatic venous congestion after living donor liver transplantation: quantitative assessment of liver stiffness using shear wave elastography--a case report

Transplant Proc. 2012 Apr;44(3):814-6. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2012.01.035.

Abstract

We report a 49-year-old right lobe liver transplant recipient, who developed a significant anastomotic stenosis of the right hepatic vein shortly thereafter. Shear wave elastography (SWE) was applied to investigate liver stiffness quantitatively. It showed increased stiffness in the anterior compared with the posterior segment of right lobe graft. The stenotic right hepatic venous anastomosis was then managed by angioplasty with stent placement. SWE after angioplasty showed a gradual decrease in stiffness of the anterior segment, which was almost equal to the posterior segment at 2 weeks thereafter. Our experience suggested that SWE may be a noninvasive tool to assess alterations in liver stiffness secondary to hepatic venous congestion after liver transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Constriction, Pathologic / surgery
  • Hepatic Veins / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Living Donors*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stents