Portal vein stenosis after liver transplantation: treatment with percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty

We used transhepatic percutaneous transluminal angioplasty to treat two patients who developed a severe anastomic portal vein stricture 7 months and 4 years respectively after liver transplantation. All signs of portal hypertension (pressure gradient, massive venous collateral circulation) disappeared following the procedure and remained absent 12 months later. Our results suggest that percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty should be considered for treatment of liver transplant recipients with anastomotic portal vein strictures. Correspondence to: P. Legmann