Intraoperative stent placement in the portal vein during or after liver transplantation.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the intermediate effectiveness of intraoperative portal vein stent placement for portal venous stenosis in liver transplantation. We attempted intraoperative portal vein stent placement in 44 portal venous anastomotic stenoses in 36 patients. All patients underwent stent placement via either the inferior or superior mesenteric vein. A total of 22 patients underwent portal vein stent placement simultaneously with liver transplantation, and 14 patients underwent stent placement 1-25 days (mean 5.93 days) after liver transplantation. Of the 22 patients, there was portal vein occlusion in 3 patients and small portal vein (<6 mm) in 10 patients (2.5-5.7 mm; mean size 3.9 mm). Patient follow-up included clinical and laboratory data collection, Doppler ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography (CT). Intraoperative portal vein stent placement was technically successful in all of our study patients, even in 6 patients with total occlusion of the portal vein. A total of 10 study patients underwent thrombectomy of the portal vein, 1 underwent patient portosystemic shunt ligation, and 7 patients had both procedures simultaneously. Portal venous patency has been maintained for 0-56 months (mean 16 months) in 42 (95%) of the 44 stent placements. In conclusion, intraoperative portal vein stent placement is an effective and long lasting treatment modality for treat portal venous stenosis, especially in patients with portal vein occlusion or small sized portal vein.     

Portal vein stenosis: a rare yet clinically important cause of delayed-onset ascites after adult deceased donor liver transplantation: two case reports

Vascular complications following liver transplantation are well documented. While complications involving the portal vein are less common than the hepatic artery, portal vein complications can lead to potentially life-threatening sequelae including graft loss. Portal vein stenosis is an infrequent complication following liver transplant. The majority of these complications are seen in living donor liver transplants and pediatric liver transplants. We present 2 cases of delayed onset portal vein stenosis in adult deceased donor liver transplantation (ADDLT). The first patient presented with refractory ascites twelve months after ADDLT. He was diagnosed and successfully treated with percutaneous transhepatic portovenography and venoplasty. The second patient had a history of irradiation to his portal bed in the setting of cholangiocarcinoma. He developed refractory ascites and esophageal variceal bleeding >2 years after ADDLT. He underwent percutaneous transhepatic portovenoplasty, but eventually required placement of a portal stent due to continued problems with recurrent ascites. These 2 cases highlight the importance of considering portal vein stenosis in the differential diagnosis of late-onset ascites following liver transplantation, especially if there have been any predisposing risk factors such as portal bed irradiation or prior splenectomy.     

Diagnosis and treatment of late-onset portal vein stenosis after pediatric living-donor liver transplantation

Purpose

Portal vein stenosis is a relatively rare complication after living-donor liver transplantation, which sometimes leads to a life-threatening event owing to gastrointestinal bleeding or graft failure. This study sought to evaluate the diagnoses and management of late-onset portal vein stenosis in pediatric living-donor liver transplants.

Materials and Methods

Since September 2001, we performed 123 living-donor liver transplant procedures in 120 children, among which 109 children with a functioning graft at 6 months after living-donor liver transplant are included in this analysis. Seven instances of portal vein stenosis were diagnosed and were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

The median age of the children was 5.3 years, and the median body weight was 19.2 kg. Portal vein stenosis was diagnosed at 11.2 ± 3.1 months after living-donor liver transplantation. Whereas 3 children were asymptomatic, splenomegaly and/or massive ascites were observed in the remaining 4. Additionally, platelet counts were below the normal limit in 4 children. All children were treated with transhepatic balloon dilatation except 1. Intraluminal stent placement was needed in 1 child owing to resistance of balloon dilatation. The mean pressure gradient decreased from 12.4 to 3.2 mmHg after successful treatment. We did not observe any treatment-related complications. Portal venous patency was maintained in all children during posttreatment follow-up of 43.2 ± 20.4 months. There were no recurrences of portal vein stenosis. One child died; the remaining 6 children are alive with good graft function at 49.8 ± 23.9 months of follow-up.

Conclusion

Although most portal vein stenosis is asymptomatic, splenomegaly and platelet counts are 2 important markers for portal vein stenosis. Early detection of portal vein stenosis with these 2 markers can lead to successful interventional percutaneous approaches and avoid graft loss.     

儿童肝移植术后门静脉狭窄的诊断与治疗

目的分析儿童肝移植术后门静脉狭窄(PVS)的可能危险因素,并探讨不同治疗方式的临床疗效。 方法回顾性分析2013年6月至2017年12月首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院肝移植中心396例儿童肝移植受者临床资料(年龄≤14周岁)。随访至2018年6月,有26例发生PVS(6.6%)。对于超声怀疑PVS的儿童受者,本中心多选用门静脉血管造影确诊。术后采用超声监测门静脉直径及流速,观察血管通畅情况。采用随访观察并口服药物抗凝治疗、球囊扩张、门静脉支架置入或Meso-Rex分流术治疗PVS。监测肝功能变化,评估有无门静脉相关的移植物损伤,并观察有无门静脉高压相关的症状或体征。 结果26例儿童受者术后发生PVS中位时间为9.5个月(1.3～50.0个月),其中3个月以内发生者占26.9%(7/26),3个月以后占73.1%(19/26)。行介入球囊扩张和支架置入或Meso-Rex分流术共47例次,均未因PVS死亡。2例儿童受者动态随访,期间口服抗凝药物;23例行门静脉球囊扩张术,1例因门静脉冗长行1次门静脉球囊扩张＋支架置入术,10例经1次门静脉球囊扩张术后无效后行二次球囊扩张,7例经二次门静脉球囊扩张术后无效行门静脉支架置入术,2例经门静脉支架置入术后再次狭窄,行Meso-Rex手术。1例口服药物抗凝治疗的儿童受者,随访期间超声提示门静脉流速偏快,其余随访至今未见PVS复发。 结论超声是监测儿童肝移植术后门静脉情况、早期发现PVS的有效办法。发生PVS时,轻症儿童受者可动态随访,期间口服抗凝药物;中重度儿童受者首选门静脉球囊扩张、门静脉支架置入术。Meso-Rex分流术是对门脉支架置入术后PVS复发或发生门静脉闭塞的一种可选择的手术方式。     

Portal Vein Stenting for Portal Hypertension Caused by Local Recurrence After Pancreatoduodenectomy for Periampullary Cancer

Portal hypertension after extensive abdominal surgery is an unusual cause of repetitive gastrointestinal bleeding. We report on a 68-year-old male patient with intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to portal vein stenosis caused by local recurrence of the distal bile duct cancer after pancreatoduodenectomy. Severe portal vein stenosis without sufficient development of portal venous collaterals was detected 25 months after pancreatoduodenectomy. Direct portography using a percutaneous transhepatic approach showed that there was a pressure gradient of 18 mmHg across the portal vein stenosis. Portal vein stenting successfully relieved portal hypertension and bowel congestion. Gastrointestinal bleeding episodes ceased after stenting. The patient died from liver metastasis 14 months after stent insertion and 39 months after pancreatoduodenectomy. Based on this case and literature reports, the possibility of portal vein stenosis should be considered for patients who have undergone pancreatoduodenectomy and then showed unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding. Percutaneous transhepatic stent insertion appears to be the treatment of choice for focal portal vein stenosis.     

Long‐term outcomes of transmesenteric portal vein recanalization for the treatment of chronic portal vein thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) may occur at any time following liver transplantation. We describe our experience with portal vein recanalization in cases of thrombosis after liver transplantation. Twenty‐eight children (5%) out of 566 liver transplant recipients underwent portal vein recanalization using a transmesenteric approach. All children received left hepatic segments, developed PVT, and had symptoms or signs of portal hypertension. Portal vein recanalization was performed via the transmesenteric route in all cases. Twenty‐two (78.6%) patients underwent successful recanalization and stent placement. They received oral anticoagulants after the procedure, and clinical symptoms subsided. Symptoms recurred due to portal vein restenosis/thrombosis in seven patients. On an intention‐to‐treat basis, the success rate of the proposed treatment was 60.7%. Only 17 out of 28 children with posttransplant chronic PVT retained stent patency (primary + assisted) at the end of the study period. In cases of portal vein obstruction, the transmesenteric approach via minilaparotomy is technically feasible with good clinical and hemodynamic results. It is an alternative procedure to reestablish the portal flow to the liver graft that can be performed in selected cases and a therapeutic addition to other treatment strategies currently used to treat chronic PVT.     

Rescue of Acute Portal Vein Thrombosis After Liver Transplantation Using a Cavoportal Shunt at Re-transplantation

BACKGROUND: Portal vein thrombosis is a rare but devastating complication following orthotopic liver transplantation. Fulminant liver failure ensues with acute portal vein thrombosis after transplantation limiting the treatment options. METHODS: We successfully re-transplanted a 46-year-old female patient who developed acute portal vein thrombosis 19 d after orthotopic liver transplantation. Vascular reconstruction included a cavoportal shunt to augment portal blood flow. RESULTS: Twelve months after re-transplantation this patient lives independently and enjoys excellent liver allograft function. CONCLUSIONS: Cavoportal shunt can augment portal blood flow in adult recipients of orthotopic liver transplants. This technique can be successfully employed during re-transplantation when portal blood flow is inadequate to maintain patency.     

Portal Vein Stent Placement in Living-donor Liver Transplantation: A Single-center Experience

IntroductionPortal vein thrombosis (PVT) and portal vein stenosis (PVS) are rare complications after liver transplantation that can lead to graft failure and patient death.Material and methodsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interventional treatment for PVT and PVS occlusion after liver transplantation. Follow-up data of 7 patients who underwent stent replacement for PVT and/or PVS were analyzed. The clinical success, complications, and portal vein patency were analyzed.ResultsClinical success was obtained in 6 of the 7 patients. No portal hypertension-related symptoms reoccurred in the 6 patients during the follow-up.ConclusionsInterventional radiologic treatment produced a high success rate and a favorable long-term outcome.     

Portal vein angioplasty using a transjugular, intrahepatic approach for treatment of extrahepatic portal vein stenosis after liver transplantation

Symptomatic portal vein stenosis is an uncommon complication after liver transplantation. Portal vein angioplasty has been successfully established for treatment of portal vein stenosis using mesenteric or percutaneous, transhepatic approaches. We herein report on a patient who suffered from variceal bleeding due to portal hypertension 3 months after liver transplantation. After successful endoscopic sclerotherapy, an extrahepatic portal vein stenosis was diagnosed, and portal vein angioplasty was considered as primary therapeutic option. Instead of mesenteric or percutaneous, transhepatic approaches, we adopted a transjugular, intrahepatic access to introduce a 14-mm balloon catheter into the portal vein. Using this technique, angioplasty was successfully performed. After intervention, no further episodes of variceal bleeding occurred. We favour the transjugular, intrahepatic technique for portal vein angioplasty because it does not require general anesthesia, in contrast to the mesenteric approach, and it reduces the risk of intra-abdominal bleeding, compared to the percutaneous, transhepatic approach. Received: 5 November 1999 Revised: 19 April 2000 Accepted: 3 October 2000     

肝移植术后门静脉狭窄18例临床分析

目的  总结肝移植术后门静脉狭窄的诊治经验。方法  回顾性分析18例肝移植术后门静脉狭窄患者的临床资料,总结门静脉狭窄发生情况、治疗情况及预后。结果  17例患者肝移植术前有肝硬化病史,7例患者肝移植术前有门静脉血栓形成史,8例有脾切除断流或分流等相关手术史;3例为儿童供肝。18例患者门静脉狭窄发生时间为术后23 d~24个月,中位时间为2.2个月,均经彩色多普勒超声（彩超）检查发现,通过门静脉CT血管造影术（CTA）或行介入治疗确诊。所有病例确诊后,均行华法林抗凝治疗;5例有门静脉高压表现的患者行球囊扩张术,其中1例同时放置血管内支架;其余13例采取保守治疗。治疗后9例好转,7例无变化,2例加重。结论  对肝移植术前有肝硬化病史的受者,术后常规彩超监测,CTA或介入治疗确诊门静脉狭窄。无临床症状患者可行保守治疗,合并门静脉高压者可行介入治疗,多数病例预后良好。     

血管内介入治疗肝移植术后门静脉狭窄或闭塞:5例报告

目的 观察血管内介入治疗肝移植术后门静脉狭窄或闭塞的效果。方法 对肝移植后3例门静脉狭窄及2例闭塞患者行血管内介入治疗,观察治疗效果。结果 对3例门静脉狭窄、1例门静脉闭塞行球囊扩张及支架植入术,术后造影示狭窄消失,血流通畅;对1例门静脉闭塞行球囊扩张并置管溶栓术,术后3天造影示门静脉通畅,血栓减少。1例术中发生肋间动脉出血,未见门静脉治疗相关并发症。术后4例症状逐渐消失、肝功能逐步恢复,随访期间门静脉通畅,1例支架内见少许附壁血栓;1例术后胆总管狭窄,植入胆道支架后,因重症肺炎、急性呼吸窘迫综合征、脓毒性休克死亡。结论 血管内介入治疗肝移植术后门静脉狭窄或闭塞效果良好;对移植后急性血栓形成可行球囊扩张术联合置管溶栓。     

肝移植术后严重门静脉狭窄的三维可视化成像与门静脉支架植入术疗效分析

目的  分析肝移植术后严重门静脉狭窄的三维成像特征与优势,评估门静脉支架植入术效果。 方法  回顾性分析10例肝移植术后因严重门静脉狭窄接受门静脉支架植入的患者的临床资料,分析严重门静脉狭窄的影像学特征、三维重建的成像优势及介入治疗效果。 结果  10例患者中狭窄类型包括向心性缩窄3例,曲折成角致狭窄2例,受压狭窄2例,长段狭窄和（或）血管闭塞3例。三维重建图像在狭窄的准确判断、狭窄类型的辨别和狭窄累及长度判断方面具有优势。所有患者均成功接受门静脉支架植入术,支架植入后门静脉最狭窄处直径较治疗前增加[（6.2±0.9）mm比（2.6±1.7）mm,P<0.05],吻合口流速较治疗前下降[（57±19）cm/s比（128±27）cm/s,P<0.05],近肝处门静脉主干流速较治疗前增加[（41±6）cm/s比（18±6）cm/s,P<0.05]。1例患者因介入穿刺引起肝内血肿,经保守观察治疗后好转,其余患者均未出现相关并发症。 结论  三维可视化技术可以立体直观展示狭窄部位、特征与严重程度,有利于临床医师进行治疗决策和辅助介入操作。及时的门静脉支架植入术可以有效逆转病变进程并改善门静脉血流。     

儿童肝移植术后门静脉狭窄的血管腔内治疗进展

门静脉狭窄是儿童肝移植术后常见的严重血管并发症之一。血管腔内治疗具有创伤微小、疗效确切的优势,是肝移植术后门静脉狭窄的首选治疗方法。本文对近年来儿童肝移植术后门静脉狭窄血管腔内治疗进展进行综述。     

原位肝移植术后门静脉并发症处理及远期疗效评估

总结并评估原位肝移植术后并发门静脉并发症的处理及其远期疗效.方法 研究对象为2002年6月至2013年4月在上海交通大学附属第六医院收治的12例肝移植术后门静脉并发症患者.对12例患者的临床资料进行分析,分析内容包括并发症的发生时间、病变性质、术前病史、术后诊断经过、处理经过及远期疗效.结果 本组患者门静脉并发症发生时间为肝移植术后3~54个月.其中门静脉吻合口狭窄3例,门静脉系广泛血栓4例,门静脉主干血栓2例,门静脉和肠系膜上静脉附壁血栓3例.3例门静脉吻合口狭窄患者成功放置血管内支架;3例门静脉和肠系膜上静脉附壁血栓患者经溶栓和抗凝治疗无病情进展;余6例患者行套扎术或硬化剂治疗后好转出院.随访3年,12例中无1例死亡.结论 肝移植术后门静脉并发症的治疗方案取决于门静脉病变性质和程度.对于早期门静脉血栓或局部附壁血栓,溶栓治疗可取得满意效果;晚期门静脉血栓溶栓治疗效果不佳.对单纯性门静脉狭窄行介入治疗是安全可行的.肝移植术后门静脉并发症经及时处理后远期效果良好.     

Right posterior portal vein stenosis developed after living donor liver transplantation using a modified right lobe graft with a type 2 portal vein: a case report

Portal vein complications after liver transplantation (LT) can lead to graft liver failure. In this living donor liver transplantation case a stenosis developed in the right posterior branch of the portal vein of the graft liver from a living donor with type 2 portal vein variation. A 61-year-old woman diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma due to hepatitis B received a liver graft revealing a single lumen divided by a septum. The portal vein was anastomosed to the recipient portal vein without venoplasty. Postoperative Doppler sonogram revealed poor flow in the right posterior portal vein with compensatory arterial hyperperfusion. The postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan revealed narrowing of the proximal part of the right posterior portal vein with periportal tracking. Without intervention, the liver enzyme and bilirubin levels decreased to normal and the follow-up CT scan showed decreased periportal tracking. The patient was discharged without major complications. We believe that the posterior portal vein stenosis resulted from the direct anastomosis of the portal vein without a further venoplasty. Although there was no major complication due to the posterior portal vein stenosis in our patient, we suggest a venoplasty to prevent portal vein stenosis when using right lobe grafts with a type 2 portal vein, even if a single lumen is present and there is a margin for a direct anastomosis.     

Portal vein reconstruction in pediatric liver transplantation from living donors.

OBJECTIVE: The authors analyze the surgical pattern and the underlying rationale for the use of different types of portal vein reconstruction in 110 pediatric patients who underwent partial liver transplantation from living parental donors. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In partial liver transplantation, standard end-to-end portal vein anastomosis is often difficult because of either size mismatch between the graft and the recipient portal vein or impaired vein quality of the recipient. Alternative surgical anastomosis techniques are necessary. METHODS: In 110 patients age 3 months to 17 years, four different types of portal vein reconstruction were performed. The portal vein of the liver graft was anastomosed end to end (type I); to the branch patch of the left and right portal vein of the recipient (type II); to the confluence of the recipient superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein (type III); and to a vein graft interposed between the confluence and the liver graft (type IV). Reconstruction patterns were evaluated by their frequency of use among different age groups of recipients, postoperative portal vein blood flow, and postoperative complication rate. RESULTS: The portal vein of the liver graft was anastomosed by reconstruction type I in 32%, II in 24%, III in 14%, and IV 29% of the cases. In children <1 year of age, type I could be performed in only 17% of the cases, whereas 37% received type IV reconstruction. Postoperative Doppler ultrasound (mL/min/100 g liver) showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower portal blood flow after type II (76.6 +/- 8.4) versus type I (110 +/- 14.3), type III (88 +/- 18), and type IV (105 +/- 19.5). Portal vein thrombosis occurred in two cases after type II and in one case after type IV anastomosis. Portal stenosis was encountered in one case after type I reconstruction. Pathologic changes of the recipient native portal vein were found in 27 of 35 investigated cases. CONCLUSION: In living related partial liver transplantation, portal vein anastomosis to the confluence with or without the use of vein grafts is the optimal alternative to end-to-end reconstruction, especially in small children.     

Portal Vein Stenting to Treat Portal Vein Stenosis in a Patient With Malignant Tumor and Gastrointestinal Bleeding

This report describes the successful use of portal venous stent placement for a patient with recurrent melena secondary to jejunal varices that developed after subtotal stomach preserved pancreatoduodenectomy (SSPPD). A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with tarry stool and severe anemia at 2 years after SSPPD for carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. Abdominal computed tomography examination showed severe stenosis of the extrahepatic portal vein caused by local recurrence and showed an intensely enhanced jejunal wall at the choledochojejunostomy. Gastrointestinal bleeding scintigraphy also revealed active bleeding near the choledochojejunostomy. Based on these findings, jejunal varices resulting from portal vein stenosis were suspected as the cause of the melena. Portal vein stenting and balloon dilation was performed via the ileocecal vein after laparotomy. Coiling of the jejunal varices and sclerotherapy of the dilate postgastric vein with 5% ethanolamine oleate with iopamidol was performed. After portal stent placement, the patient was able to lead a normal life without gastrointestinal hemorrhage. However, he died 7 months later due to liver metastasis.Key words: Portal vein stenosis, Portal vein stent, PancreatoduodenectomyObstruction of the extrahepatic portal vein can lead to portal hypertension, splenomegaly, and gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal or gastric varices. Malignant portal vein stenosis accounts for 15 to 24% of all cases of portal venous stenosis or occlusion and usually results from portal vein tumor thrombus or external compression of the portal vein by neoplasms.^1–4 When a patient with malignant tumors undergoes subtotal stomach preserved pancreatoduodenectomy (SSPPD), formation of hepatopetal collaterals is precluded by lymph node dissection and resection of the peribiliary vascular plexus around the hepatoduodenal ligament. Instead, jejunal varices form at the choledochojejunostomy site. The treatment of portal vein stenosis remains controversial, and the indications for portal vein stent placement have not yet been clarified.This report describes a case of successful portal vein stenting for a patient with portal vein stenosis and repetitive bleeding from jejunal varices that developed after SSPPD.     

彩色多普勒超声评价支架植入术治疗移植肝血管狭窄

目的探讨彩色多普勒血流显像技术（CDFI）在移植肝血管狭窄支架植入术疗效评估中的价值。方法13例肝动脉狭窄,1例门静脉狭窄,2例肝静脉狭窄。于支架植入术前、后行CDFI检查并每隔3～4个月随访复查,取多普勒参数肝内动脉血流阻力指数和加速度、门静脉吻合口管径及其两端血流速度比值、肝静脉狭窄处管径及肝静脉和下腔静脉肝下段血流频谱进行统计学分析。结果肝动脉狭窄者支架植入术后RI升高,SAT缩短,治疗前后差异有显著性意义（P〈0.05）。门静脉和肝静脉狭窄者支架植入术后狭窄段管径增宽,植入的支架呈并行相间的线样强回声,门静脉吻合口两端血流速度梯度下降,肝静脉和下腔静脉肝下段血流频谱由术前的平坦波恢复为两相或三相波。结论CDFI检查是评价移植肝血管狭窄支架植入术疗效的可靠方法。     

肝移植术后门静脉阻塞的介入治疗

目的 评价用介入技术治疗原位肝移植术后门静脉(PV)阻塞的安全性和疗效.方法 对13例原位肝移植术后PV阻塞[狭窄和(或)血栓形成]病人进行了介入治疗,男9例,女4例;年龄28～60岁(平均43岁).其中PV血栓3例,PV吻合口狭窄9例,PV吻合口狭窄合并血栓1例,合并食管-胃底静脉曲张9例(其中8例有呕血病史).7例用经皮经肝穿刺PV分支途径治疗,6例经TIPS途径,技术包括球囊扩张+置入支架8例、局部溶栓和清除血栓4例次、单纯球囊扩张2例、联合栓塞胃冠状静脉9例次.结果 介入治疗技术均成功,无重要并发症,结束治疗时复查造影显示PV血流通畅,PV主干管径接近正常10例、3例残留狭窄＜30%.随访6～48个月(平均28个月),5例术前肝功能异常病人,术后2周有显著改善;9例以门静脉高压症合并食管-胃底静脉曲张病人,术后复查胃镜显示静脉曲张明显好转,随访期间未发生静脉曲张破裂出血.4例腹部症状较明显的病人,术后腹痛、腹胀和腹泻等症状逐渐减轻;复查Doppler超声波显示PV血流通畅.结论 介入技术是治疗原位肝移植术后PV阻塞的安全、有效方法 .     

Successful recanalization of late portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation using systemic low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an infrequent complication following hepatic transplantation. However, deterioration of liver function and accompanying complications may be life threatening. Several attempts of surgical or percutaneous transhepatic procedures have been described. In some cases high dose fibrinolytic regimens have been successful. We describe the case of a male liver recipient with recurrent liver fibrosis due to hepatitis B reinfection and late portal vein thrombosis 45 months after transplantation. Complete recanalization was achieved using systemic low dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Received: 4 May 1998 Received after revision: 16 March 1999 Accepted: 9 April 1999