No-touch hepatic hilum technique to treat early portal vein thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation

Am J Transplant. 2010 Sep;10(9):2148-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2010.03236.x.

Abstract

A 'no-touch' hilum technique used to treat early portal vein complications post-liver transplantation in five children with body weight <10 kg is described. Four patients developed thrombosis and one portal flow absence secondary to collateral steal flow. A vascular sheath was placed through the previous laparotomy in the ileocolic vein (n = 2), inferior mesenteric vein (n = 1) or graft umbilical vein (n = 1). Portal clots were mechanically fragmented with balloon angioplasty. In addition, coil embolization of competitive collaterals (n = 3) and stent placement (n = 1) were performed. The catheter was left in place and exteriorized through the wound (n = 2) or a different transabdominal wall puncture (n = 3). A continuous transcatheter perfusion of heparin was subsequently administered. One patient developed recurrent thrombosis 24 h later which was resolved with the same technique. Catheters were removed surgically after a mean of 10.6 days. All patients presented portal vein patency at the end of follow-up. Three patients are alive after 5 months, 1.5 and 3.5 years, respectively; one patient required retransplantation 18 days postprocedure and the remaining patient died of adenovirus infection 2 months postprocedure. In conclusion, treatment of early portal vein complications following pediatric liver transplantation with this novel technique is feasible and effective.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae Infections / etiology
  • Adenoviridae Infections / mortality
  • Adolescent
  • Angiography
  • Angioplasty, Balloon
  • Child
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures*
  • Portal Vein* / physiopathology
  • Postoperative Care
  • Radiology, Interventional*
  • Reoperation
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler
  • Vascular Patency
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Venous Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Venous Thrombosis / therapy*