Ascites Due to Anastomotic Stenosis After Liver Transplantation Using the Piggyback Technique: Treatment with Endovascular Prosthesis
- Department of Radiology, Clinica Universitaria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII no. 36, E-31008 Pamplona (Spain)
- Department of Internal Medicine-Liver Unit, Clinica Universitaria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII no. 36, E-31008 Pamplona (Spain)
- Department of Surgery, Clinica Universitaria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII no. 36, E-31008 Pamplona (Spain)
Liver transplantation preserving the retrohepatic inferior vena cava, the so-called piggyback technique, is becoming more frequently used because it avoids caval cross-clamping during the anhepatic phase of surgery. However, hepatic venous outflow blockade causing ascites seems to be less infrequent after piggyback than with cavo-caval anastomosis. We report a 62-year-old patient who underwent liver transplantation using the piggyback technique and developed a stenosis in the anastomosis between the hepatic veins and the inferior vena cava leading to severe postoperative ascites. Ascites was unresponsive to diuretic therapy and was associated with renal function impairment. Since the etiology of the stenosis was mechanical (torsion), percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was unsuccessful. Finally, an autoexpandable prosthesis was placed across the anastomosis resulting in rapid and permanent (3 years of follow-up) resolution of ascites.
- OSTI ID:
- 21083674
- Journal Information:
- Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Vol. 23, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1007/s002709910031; Copyright (c) 2000 Springer-Verlag New York Inc; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0174-1551
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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