Living donor liver transplantation with alternative porto-left gastric vein anastomosis in patients with post-Kasai extrahepatic portal vein obstruction

Pediatr Transplant. 2013 May;17(3):E100-3. doi: 10.1111/petr.12067. Epub 2013 Mar 11.

Abstract

EPVO is a common cause of prehepatic portal hypertension in pediatric patients and sometimes results in cavernous transformation of the PV. We herein present the cases of two patients who underwent LDLT for EPVO with post-Kasai biliary atresia. PV reconstruction was performed with a porto-left gastric vein anastomosis. The patient who underwent PV reconstruction using an interposition vein graft is doing well without surgical complications, whereas PV anastomotic stenosis was detected three months after LDLT in the patient who did not receive an interposition vein graft. The availability of vein grafts is limited in the LDLT setting. In such cases, performing PV reconstruction with varicose veins using interposition vein grafts is a feasible and valuable alternative option for obtaining a sufficient portal blood flow. Our experiences suggest that using interposition vein grafts may be appropriate for preventing the anastomotic stenosis caused by the fragility of varicose veins.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anastomosis, Surgical*
  • Biliary Atresia / complications
  • Biliary Atresia / surgery
  • Child
  • End Stage Liver Disease / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Portal / etiology*
  • Hypertension, Portal / therapy
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Portal Vein / surgery
  • Portal Vein / transplantation*
  • Stomach / blood supply
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Diseases
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures / methods