“Rex Shunt” for the Treatment of Portal Vein Thrombosis After Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Background and Purpose

Late portal vein thrombosis (PVT) can be extremely well tolerated, although portal hypertension and other consequences of the long-term deprivation of portal inflow to the graft may be hazardous, especially in young children. Recently, the “Rex shunt” has been used successfully to treat these patients. We now report the initial experience with this novel technique.

Methods

A 3-year-old girl with PVT at 7 months after whole organ cadaveric liver transplant displayed portal hypertension with an episode of gastrointestinal bleeding, requiring a mesenteric-portal surgical shunt (“Rex shunt”) using a left internal jugular vein autograft.

Results

Upon current follow-up of 6 months, postoperative Doppler ultrasound confirmed shunt patency. Endoscopic status was significantly improved after surgery with resolution of portal hypertension. There was no recurrence of bleeding.

Conclusions

The mesenteric-portal shunt (“Rex shunt”), using a left internal jugular vein autograft, should be considered for children with late PVT after liver transplantation. Although this is an initial experience, we may conclude that this technique is feasible, with great potential benefits and low risks for these patients.     

Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis after umbilical catheterization: is it a good choice for Rex shunt?

Background

Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis (EHPVT) is an important cause of portal hypertension in children. Rex shunt has been used successfully to treat these patients.

Methods

We report our experience in 19 infants and children (5 months to 14 years) with HPVT eligible for a mesenteric-portal surgical shunt with left internal jugular vein autograft. Eight children had idiopathic EHPVT, nine had post-umbilical catheterization EHPVT, one had portal vein agenesis, and one had posttransplant EHPVT.

Results

It was possible to perform the Rex shunt in all patients except for 8 of 9 cases in the post-umbilical catheterization EHPVT group. A Warren procedure was performed in 4 of those patients and a proximal splenorenal shunt in 1. Current follow-up ranges from 3 to 26 months. Shunt thrombosis occurred in one patient with portal vein agenesis and associated cardiac anomaly. Portal hypertension has significantly improved after surgery. None of our patients have experienced new bleeding episodes until now.

Conclusions

The Rex shunt should be considered in the treatment of children with idiopathic EHPVT experiencing repeated gastrointestinal bleeding episodes refractory to endoscopic treatment. Nevertheless, the role of this operation for children with post-umbilical catheterization EHPVT is yet to be clearly evaluated.     

Preoperative imaging of left portal vein at the Rex recess for Rex shunt formation using wedged hepatic vein carbon dioxide portography

Background

In children with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), formation of a mesentericoportal bypass (Rex shunt) restores hepatopetal flow, relieves portal hypertension, and reduces variceal bleeding and hypersplenism. The Rex shunt is created by inserting a vein graft between the superior mesenteric vein and the umbilical segment (Rex) of the left portal vein within the Rex recess of the liver. The preoperative evaluation of a patient with EHPVO includes an accurate assessment of the venous inflow and outflow. The inflow portal vein is readily assessed by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. The outflow intrahepatic portal vein is harder to assess. We report our experience of patients evaluated with wedged hepatic vein carbon dioxide portography (WHVCP).

Method

All children referred for venography from October 2001 to October 2007 were prospectively identified, and clinical and radiologic data were reviewed retrospectively. The imaging findings were correlated to findings at surgery.

Results

Eleven children (range, 3-14 years, median, 6 years) were referred for preoperative wedged hepatic venography. The left portal vein at the Rex recess was clearly identified in 9 patients (82%). In the other 2 patients (18%), the Rex segment was not identified despite opacification of left and right intrahepatic portal veins; this was taken to indicate an occluded segment. Wedged venography was performed with carbon dioxide in 10 patients (91%). Carbon dioxide was contraindicated in the final patient because of the presence of a ventricular septal defect.

Conclusion

Our series demonstrates the use of WHVCP as a diagnostic tool in preoperative assessment of the Rex segment of left portal vein in children with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction.     

Vascular Complications Following Adult Piggyback Liver Transplantation With End-to-Side Cavo-Cavostomy: A Single-Center Experience

Background

Vascular complications remain a significant cause of morbidity, graft loss, and mortality following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). These problems predominantly include hepatic artery and portal vein thrombosis or stenosis. Venous outflow obstruction may be specifically related to the technique of piggyback OLT.

Materials and Methods

Between February 2002 and February 2009, we performed 200 piggyback OLT in 190 recipients. A temporary portacaval shunt was created in 44 (22%) cases, whereas end-to-side cavo-cavostomy was routinely performed for graft implantation. Pre-existent partial portal or superior mesenteric vein thrombosis was present in 17 (12%) cirrhotics in whom we successfully performed eversion thrombectomy, which was followed by a typical end-to-end portal anastomosis. The donor hepatic artery was anastomosed to the recipient aorta via an iliac interposition graft in 31 (16%) patients.

Results

The 14 (7%) vascular complications included hepatic artery thrombosis (n = 5), hepatic artery stenosis (n = 3), aortic/celiac trunk rupture (n = 2), portal vein stenosis (n = 2), and isolated left and middle hepatic venous outflow obstruction (n = 1). There was also 1 case of arterial steal syndrome via the splenic artery. No patient experienced portal or mesenteric vein thrombosis. Therapeutic modalities included re-OLT, arterial/aortic reconstruction and splenic artery ligation. Vascular complications resulted in death of 5 (36%) patients.

Conclusion

Our experience indicated that piggyback OLT with an end-to-side cavo-cavostomy showed a low risk of venous outflow obstruction. Partial portal or mesenteric vein thrombosis is no longer an obstacle to OLT; it can be successfully managed with the eversion thrombectomy technique.     

Orthotopic liver transplantation in biliary atresia: a single-center experience

Introduction

Biliary atresia (BA) is the leading indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) among children. However, there are technical difficulties, including the limited dimensions of anatomical structures, hypoplasia and/or thrombosis of the portal vein and previous portoenterostomy procedures.

Objective

The objective of this study was to present our experience of 239 children with BA who underwent OLT between September 1989 and June 2010 compared with OLT performed for other causes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patient charts and analysis of complications and survival.

Results

BA was the most common indication for OLT (207/409; 50.6%). The median age of subjects was 26 months (range, 7-192). Their median weight was 11 kg (range, 5-63) with 110 children (53.1%) weighing ≤10 kg. We performed 126 transplantations from cadaveric donors (60.8%) and 81 from living-related donors (LRD) (39.2%). Retransplantation was required for 31 recipients (14.9%), primarily due to hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT; 64.5%). Other complications included the following: portal vein thrombosis (PVT; 13.0%), biliary stenosis and/or fistula (22.2%), bowel perforation (7.0%), and posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD; 5.3%). Among the cases of OLT for other causes, the median age of recipients was 81 months (range, 11-17 years), which was higher than that for children with BA. Retransplantation was required in 3.5% of these patients (P < .05), mostly due to HAT. The incidences of PVT, bowel perforation, and PTLD were significantly lower (P < .05). There was no significant difference between biliary complications in the 2 groups. The overall survival rates at 1 versus 5 years were 79.7% versus 68.1% for BA, and 81.2% versus 75.7% for other causes, respectively.

Conclusions

Children who undergo OLT for BA are younger than those engrafted for other causes, displaying a higher risk of complications and retransplantations.     

Liver Transplantation Using University of Wisconsin or Celsior Preserving Solutions in the Portal Vein and Euro-Collins in the Aorta

Introduction

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is today the gold standard treatment of the end-stage liver disease. Different solutions are used for graft preservation. Our objective was to compare the results of cadaveric donor OLT, preserved with the University of Wisconsin (UW) or Celsior solutions in the portal vein and Euro-Collins in the aorta.

Methods

We evaluated retrospectively 72 OLT recipients, including 36 with UW solution (group UW) and 36 with Celsior (group CS). Donors were perfused in situ with 1000 mL UW or Celsior in the portal vein of and 3000 mL of Euro-Collins in the aortia and on the back table managed with 500 mL UW or Celsior in the portal vein, 250 mL in the hepatic artery, and 250 mL in the biliary duct. We evaluated the following variables: donor characteristics, recipient features, intraoperative details, reperfusion injury, and steatosis via a biopsy after reperfusion. We noted grafts with primary nonfunction (PNF), initial poor function (IPF), rejection episodes, biliary duct complications, hepatic artery complications, re-OLT, and recipient death in the first year after OLT.

Results

The average age was 33.6 years in the UW group versus 41 years in the CS group (P = .048). There was a longer duration of surgery in the UW group (P = .001). The other recipient characteristics, ischemia-reperfusion injury, steatosis, PNF, IPF, rejection, re-OLT, and recipient survival were not different. Stenosis of the biliary duct occured in 3 (8.3%) cases in the UW group and 8 (22.2%) in the CS (P = .19) with hepatic artery thrombosis in 4 (11.1%) CS versus none in the UW group (P = .11).

Conclusion

Cadaveric donor OLT showed similar results with organs preserved with UW or Celsior in the portal vein and Euro-Collins in the aorta.     

Posttransplantation portal thrombosis secondary to splenorenal shunt persistence

Purpose

The aim of this study was to analyze our experience with portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation with a persistent splenorenal shunt.

Materials and methods

The study population included 780 liver transplantations from 1990 to 2009. We analyzed the existence of portal vein thrombosis in the immediate posttransplant period, selecting cases with a persistent splenorenal shunt requiring surgery.

Results

The incidence of posttransplant portal vein thrombosis was 1.41% (n = 11), of which 3 (27%) had a splenorenal shunt as a possible cause (0.38% of the total). Two cases required liver retransplantation due to portal vein thrombosis, and the third a thrombectomy. In all cases the shunt was also closed. During the early postoperative follow-up of these 3 patients, 2 needed repeat surgeries because of a new portal vein thrombosis (thrombectomy) in one and a bilioperitoneum in the other. After a median follow-up of 11 months, the patients showed a good evolution with no primary graft dysfunction.

Discussion

The portal steal phenomenon secondary to persistence of a splenorenal shunt promotes the occurrence of portal vein thrombosis. Although it is a rare cause of graft dysfunction, it must be treated early, because it can lead to a small-for-size syndrome.     

Living related donor liver transplantation in children

Objective

The objective of this study was to report our experience with pediatric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with living related donors.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart analysis of 121 living related donor liver transplantations (LRDLT) from June 1998 to June 2010.

Results

Indications were biliary atresia (BA; n = 81), primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 5), α-1 antitrypsin deficiency (n = 4); cholestasis (n = 9), fulminant hepatic failure (n = 8), autoimmune hepatitis (n = 2), Alagille syndrome (n = 4), hepatoblastoma (n = 3), tyrosinemia (n = 2), and congenital hepatic fibrosis (n = 3). The age of the recipients ranged from 7-174 months (median, 22) and the weights ranged from 6-58 kg (median, 10). Forty-nine children (40.5%) weighed ≤10 kg. The grafts included the left lateral segment (n = 108), the left lobe (n = 12), and the right lobe (n = 1). The donors included 71 mothers, 45 fathers, 2 uncles, 1 grandmother, 1 grandfather, and 1 sister with a median age of 29 years (range, 16-53 ys) and a median weight of 68 kg (range, 47-106). Sixteen patients (12.9%) required retransplantation, most commonly due to hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT; n = 13; 10.7%). The other complications were biliary stenosis (n = 25; 20.6%), portal vein thrombosis (PVT; n = 11; 9.1%), portal vein stenosis (n = 5; 4.1%), hepatic vein stenosis (n = 6; 4.9%), and lymphoproliferative disorders (n = 8; 6.6%). The ultimate survival rate of recipients was 90.3% after 1 year and 75.8% after 3 years. Causes of early death within 1 month were HAT (n = 6), PVT (n = 2), severe graft dysfunction (n = 1), sepsis (n = 1), and intraoperative death in children with acute liver failure (n = 2). Causes of late deaths included lymphoproliferative disease (n = 3), chronic rejection (n = 2), biliary complications (n = 3), and recurrent disease (n = 3; hepatoblastoma and primary sclerosing cholangitis).

Conclusions

Despite the heightened possibility of complications (mainly vascular), LRDLT represented a good alternative to transplantation from cadaveric donors in pediatric populations. It was associated with a high survival ratio.     

Living donor liver transplantation for the patients with portal vein thrombosis: use of an interpositional venous graft passed posteriorly to the pancreatic parenchyma without using jump graft

Background

It is difficult to reconstruct the portal vein (PV) using a long interpositional venous graft in living donor liver transplant (LDLT) patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT), which involves the confluence of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and splenic vein (SV). We successfully performed LDLT for three patients with PVT using an interpositional vascular conduit passing posterior to the pancreas without a jump graft.

Methods

Three of 130 patients who underwent LDLT in our hospital between March 2002 and June 2011 required this technique. After indentifying the location of the SMV, SV and gastrocolic trunk, we ligated and cut the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal vein and other short branches from the PV. The PV was drawn inferiorly to the pancreas and transected at the confluence of SMV and SV. The external iliac vein or internal jugular vein was sacrificed as a graft for anastomosis to the cut end of the SMV using 6-0 polypropylene running sutures. Then the venous graft was drawn superiorly to the pancreas by passing it posterior to the pancreas parenchyma for anastomosis to the liver graft PV. The interpositional vein was placed posterior to the pancreas where the PV used to be.

Results

All three patients displayed favorable postoperative courses with the Doppler ultrasound demonstrating good portal flow perioperatively. The postoperative portogram demonstrated patency of the vascular graft.

Conclusion

This method is easy and helpful to treat portal vein thrombosis, by providing the shortest route between the PV of the donor and the SMV of the recipient.     

Modified technique of meso-Rex shunt in case of insufficient length of the jugular vein graft

Meso-Rex shunt (MRS) can relieve portal hypertension and restore a physiological portal flow in patients with portal vein thrombosis. We describe a technical variant where the autologous internal jugular vein (IJV) was too short to bridge the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and the Rex recessus.

Patient

A 15-year-old boy with portal cavernoma had several episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding despite repeated sclerotherapy. Preoperative assessment, including retrograde transjugular portography, showed persistent esophageal and gastric varices, severe hypertensive gastropathy, obstructed portal vein, patent SMV and splenomesenteric confluence, patent intrahepatic portal branches, and normal transhepatic pressure gradient. An MRS was planned. The left IJV was retrieved from its infracranial part to its confluence with subclavian vein. After performing the Rex recessus to IJV graft anastomosis, the IJV graft proved to be too short for classical end-to-side anastomosis onto the SMV. After clamp testing showing good tolerance of the small bowel, the proximal jejunal branches of the SMV were tied, the proximal SMV was mobilized and transsected 4 cm below the pancreas, and an end-to-end anastomosis between SMV and IJV was performed. Portal pressure decreased from 23 to 13 mm Hg, and intraoperative Ultra Sound Doppler (US Doppler) showed good flows in the shunt. Postoperative course was uneventful, and 1 year after surgery, the child is clinically well, off medication, with a patent shunt, and no portal hypertension.

Conclusion

This modified MRS technique may be useful when the autologous IJV graft is too short, avoiding the need for prosthetic conduits and prolonged postoperative anticoagulation.     

Effectiveness of Rex shunt in the treatment of portal hypertension

Background

Children with portal venous thrombosis often have severe symptoms secondary to portal hypertension including recurrent upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeds and hypersplenism. We report results of the use of the mesenterico-left portal bypass (Rex shunt) in 5 consecutive patients.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of all patients with portal venous thrombosis who underwent Rex shunt procedure was performed. Children were evaluated preoperatively with magnetic resonance angiogram, Doppler ultrasound, and mesenteric angiogram. Postoperative ultrasounds were performed in follow-up.

Results

All patients had evidence of portal hypertension and hypersplenism. The average age of the patients was 13.2 ± 4.9 (7-19) years. The patient had an average of 2.6 ± 1.7 UGI bleeds requiring banding and 3.4 ± 4.2 U of blood transfused before undergoing the shunt. The mean operative time was 383 ± 46 minutes, and length of stay was 10.4 ± 7.1 days. In follow-up of 18.8 ± 5.2 months (11-24 months), all but 1 patient had a patent shunt. One narrowed shunt was successfully dilated by percutaneous angioplasty. Thrombocytopenia improved significantly in patients with functioning shunts but did not correlate with a significant decrease in splenic size.

Conclusions

The Rex shunt reestablishes normal hepatopedal portal flow, and in patients with functioning shunts, no recurrent UGI bleeds or transfusions were required or evidence of encephalopathy were noted.     

Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis is associated with an increased incidence of cholelithiasis

Background/Purpose

The effect of portal flow deprivation to the liver on bile composition and the biliary system remains undefined in children. This report catalogues the authors’ experience with biliary tract problems in children with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis (EHPVT).

Methods

Twenty-nine children with symptomatic idiopathic EHPVT were evaluated for the Rex shunt procedure (mesenterico-left portal bypass) over a 4-year period. The authors retrospectively reviewed all operative reports and pre- and postoperative abdominal ultrasound findings with regard to associated congenital anomalies and abnormal biliary tract findings.

Results

Seven of the 29 patients with EHPVT (24%) had associated nonbiliary congenital abnormalities. Twenty-four of 29 (83%) patients had detectable biliary tract pathology by ultrasound examination. Biliary symptoms developed in 3 of the 9 (33%) patients with either stones or sludge (10.3% of all patients). Two patients were treated by cholecystectomy. There was no statistical correlation between biliary tract pathology and the age of presentation, symptoms of portal hypertension, gender, or underlying medical condition.

Conclusions

The authors have noted a high incidence of biliary tract pathology in patients with EHPVT compared with the normal population and a 10% incidence of symptomatic biliary pathology in this series.     

Single-Center Experience of 253 Portal Vein Thrombosis Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation in China

Objective

We sought to review the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and surgical options for 253 patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) to assess the the impact of PVT on outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data from 2508 adult patients undergoing 2614 OLTs in our center from September 1998 to July 2007. PVT was scorded according to the operative findings and Yerdel grading of PVT. No prisoners were used as donors for this study.

Results

Two hundred fifty-three patients were diagnosed with PVT (10.09%): there were 104 grade I; 114, grade II; 29, grade III; and 6, grade IV PVT. Sex and previous splenectomy increased the risk for PVT. In grade I and II cases, we performed simple thrombectomy, eversion thrombectomy, or improved eversion thrombectomy (IET, innovated by our center), producing smooth postoperative recoveries with a 0% in-hospitality mortality. In grade III cases, 18 underwent successful IET. Of 11 subjects who had eversion thrombectomy, six failed, and the distal superior mesentery vein or dilated splanchnic collateral tributary had to be used as the inflow vessel in four patients, and portal vein arterialization were performed in the other two patients, all of whom experienced a smooth postoperative recovery except one who died of hepatic failure and pulmonary infection 2 weeks after the operation. The in-hospitality mortality was 3.45%. In grade IV cases, three underwent successful IET, but another three cases failed, with two of them requiring a renal vein as the inflow vessel, and other one undergoing portocaval hemitransposition, with one postoperative death due to hepatic failure and another of cancer recurrence, an in-hospitality mortality rate of 33.33%. The transfusion requirement among PVT patients was significantly higher than that in non-PVT patients (9.32 ± 3.12 U vs 6.02 ± 2.40 U; P < .01). Blood loss in PVT patients who underwent the IET technique was significantly lower than that for an eversion thrombectomy (2800.36 ± 930.52 mL vs 5700.21 ± 162.50 mL P < .05). The overall actuarial 1-year survival rate in PVT patients was similar to the controls (86.56% vs 89.40%; P > .05).

Conclusion

OLT was successfully performed for PVT patients. The grade of PVT decided the surgical strategy. Similar 1-year survival rates were attained between PVT patients and controls undergoing OLT.     

Outcomes of liver transplantation in candidates with portal vein thrombosis

Objective

The objective of the present study was to analyze the incidence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), comparing morbidity and mortality rates among those affected with and those free of this complication. In the PVT group, we also analyzed mortality related to partial (PPVT) and total (TPVT) thrombosis.

Methods

We undertook a retrospective study of orthotopic liver transplantations from deceased donors in 617 recipients from January 1991 until October 2008. Recipients were classified according to whether they had PVT. In all cases, we considered age, sex, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, Child-Pugh score, indication for transplantation, type of thrombosis, surgical technique blood product transfusion, and survival rate.

Results

There were 48 patients with PVT (7.78%) among 670 transplantations in 617 recipients in our institution. Concerning the type of thrombosis, 28 (58.3%) were partial and 20 (41.7%) total with complete occlusion of the portal vein lumen.

Conclusion

PVT in liver transplant candidates is a rare event (7.8%) that entails greater difficulty in the procedure, expressed as a longer operative time, greater consumption of blood products, and complex surgical techniques. The prognosis for these patients depends on the type of thrombosis: patients with TPVT showed a higher mortality, whereas those with PPVT had survival rates comparable to those of candidates with a permeable portal vein.     

Stem cell factor, interleukin-16, and interleukin-2 receptor alpha are predictive biomarkers for delayed and slow graft function

Introduction

Delayed graft function (DGF) and slow graft function (SGF) due to ischemic and reperfusion injury (IRI) are common complications of deceased donor kidney transplantation. We tested whether a panel of serum and urine cytokines represent early biomarkers for DGF and SGF.

Methods

We collected serum and urine samples from 61 patients 48 hours posttransplantation and used a multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique to measure levels of 23 cytokines. Fourteen patients developed poor graft function (PGF), with 6 having DGF and 8 with SGF.

Results

Area under receiver operation characteristics curve (AUC) demonstrated the following: serum levels of SCF (0.88) and interleukin (IL) 16 (0.74).

Conclusions

This study showed that a select panel of cytokines measured early post kidney transplantation may predict poor graft function.     

Vascular complications after living donor liver transplantation: a Brazilian, single-center experience

Background

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), vascular complications are more frequently seen than in deceased donor transplantation. Early arterial, portal vein, or hepatic vein thromboses are complications that can lead to graft loss and patient death. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, treatment, and outcome of vascular complications after LDLT in a single Brazilian center.

Methods

Between December 2001 and December 2010, we performed 130 LDLT. Sixty-four recipients were children (27 weighing <10 kg).

Results

Nine recipients had vascular complications. Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in 4 (3.1%), portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in 3 (2.3%), and hepatic vein thrombosis (HVT) and hepatic arterial stenosis (HAS) in 1 (0.8%) patient each. Complications were identified by Doppler and confirmed by angiography or angiotomography. Patients with HAT were listed for retransplantation. One died before retransplant. Two children were submitted to retransplantation; one is still alive, with neurologic sequelae. One adult with HAT was retransplanted with a deceased donor graft and is doing well 58 months after surgery. Two patients with PVT died as a consequence of graft malfunction. In the other case, portal vein arterialization was performed, but patient died 11 months posttransplant. HVT was detected after cardiac reanimation and was treated with an endovascular stent. This patient died 3 months after LDLT. HAS was diagnosed after liver abscess development and was successfully treated by endovascular angioplasty. No recurrence was observed after 22 months. Follow-up ranged from 9 to 117 months.

Conclusion

Pediatric patients are more prone to develop vascular complications after LDLT. Long-term survival was statistically lower for recipients with vascular complications (33.3% vs 77.7%; P = .008).     

Incidence and management of postoperative abdominal bleeding after liver transplantation

Purpose

To assess the incidence and management of postoperative abdominal bleeding after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and to identify risk factors for abdominal bleeding.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1039 patients who underwent OLT at our institution from January 2008 to December 2010 seeking to identify subjects with posttransplantation abdominal bleeding, defined as any hemorrhage requiring radiologic intervention or laparotomy within the first month.

Results

Among the 1039 patients, 94 (9%) showed abdominal bleeding, occurring at a mean of 6.1 days (range, day 1 to 21 days). Active bleeding was controlled by endovascular interventional techniques (n = 37; 39%), by surgical ligation or vascular reconstruction (n = 43; 46%), or by sequential combinations of endovascular intervention and surgery (n = 14; 15%). The most frequent bleeding sites for radiologic intervention were the right inferior phrenic artery (n = 14), right and left epigastric arteries (n = 7), intercostal artery (n = 5) and right renal capsular artery (n = 4). The most frequent bleeding sites requiring laparotomy were the hepatic artery (n = 9), diaphragm (n = 8), inferior vena cava (n = 5), abdominal drain insertion site (n = 4), portal vein anastomosis site (n = 4), abdominal wall (n = 3), liver graft cut surface (n = 3), hilar plate (n = 3), and greater omentum (n = 3). Bleeding episodes were associated with greater patient age and increased intraoperative blood loss.

Conclusions

The risk of bleeding from coagulopathy and iatrogenic injury is high during the early posttransplantation period. This risk of bleeding can be minimized by meticulous surgical dissection and bleeding control.     

Impact of Donor Age on the Results of Liver Transplantation in Hepatitis C Virus-Positive Recipients

Objective

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-cirrhosis is the most frequent indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) among adults in most European and American transplant centers. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of donor age on graft survival among HCV-positive cirrhotic transplant patients.

Materials and Methods

We performed an observational, retrospective study between March 1997 and December 2004, analyzing 340 liver transplantations. The patients were divided into 4 groups, considering whether the HCV infection was the indication for OLT and whether the age of the donor was older or younger than 48 years: group 1 (HCV, <48 years); group 2 (HCV, >48 years); group 3 (non-HCV, <48 years); and group 4 (non-HCV, >48 years).

Results

A univariate analysis showed that posttransplantation graft survival was clearly influenced by recipient HCV serologic status (P = .018). However, no graft survival differences were found when the analysis variable was age (>48 or <48 years). When both variables were studied, a positive HCV serology did not modify graft survival when the donor age was <48 years (P = .32), but had a statistically significant negative impact when the age was >48 years (P = .02).

Conclusions

The use of older donors for HCV recipients resulted in worse graft and patient survivals in our study. This difference in survival was not present in non-HCV recipients or when grafts for HCV recipients were procured from younger donors. Donor age <30 years was a protective factor for graft survival among HCV recipients.     

Rocuronium Profile During Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: Effect of Changing the Order of Vascular Clamp Release at Reperfusion of the Hepatic Graft

Background

Clearance of rocuronium in the neohepatic period may be a criterion for graft function during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Our goal was to demonstrate that changes in rocuronium elimination are caused mainly by variations in blood volume at reperfusion. We have explored the influence on rocuronium plasma concentrations of changing the order of vascular unclamping at graft reperfusion.

Methods

Thirty patients were randomized at graft reperfusion: initial arterial revascularization (IAR; n = 14) wherein the hepatic artery was released first, and initial portal revascularization (IPR; n = 16) wherein the portal vein was released first. Tracheal intubation was facilitated by rocuronium (1 mg/kg) with an infusion initiated at 0.25 mg kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ to maintain a response to the first stimulus of the train of four <25% of controls. Rocuronium plasma concentrations (RPC) were measured throughout the transplantation.

Results

No differences were observed in rocuronium consumption at different stages. RPCs decreased after reperfusion, with primarily portal unclamping responsible. In 6 patients of the IAR group and 5 patients of the IPR group, RPC at 60 minutes after reperfusion was higher than previous values. Indicators of graft dysfunction among those 11 did not differ from the other patients. Two patients in the IPR group required retransplantation without any relation to changes in RPCs.

Conclusion

The increase of blood flow produced by portal vein unclamping influenced RPCs; no relation was observed between RPCs and graft outcomes.     

Autosomal-Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplantation: Experience of a Single Center

Background

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a hereditary disease that frequently leads to end-stage renal disease and is a common indication for kidney transplantation. We sought to evaluate the demographic characteristics, graft and patient survival, and some posttransplantation complications among ADPKD recipients.

Methods

This retrospective study included 445 renal transplant recipients, among whom 48 had ADPKD. We excluded patients with pretransplantation diabetes mellitus. We evaluated patient and graft survivals as well as posttransplantation complications.

Results

There was no difference between the 2 groups with respect to demographic or transplant characteristics, except for older age among the ADPKD group (51.2 ± 8.6 years vs 44 ± 13.1 years; P < .001). We also observed no significant difference with regard to immediate graft function, immunological graft, or patient survival. Although not significant, there was a lower incidence of proteinuria and a greater number of acute rejections among ADPKD patients. As for posttransplantation complications, there was no difference regarding the prevalence of hypertension, but there was more erythrocytosis among the ADPKD group. The incidence of posttransplantation diabetes mellitus was significantly greater in ADPKD patients (33.3% vs 17.1%; P = .009), and remained significant after adjusting for confounding variables by multivariate analysis with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.008-5.136; P = .048).

Conclusion

Our results suggested that ADPKD patients display a greater incidence of diabetes mellitus posttransplantation; ADPKD emerged as an independent predictor for this complication.