Strategies and outcomes of portal vein reconstruction of liver transplantation recipient with diffuse portal vein thrombosis / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To summarize the strategies and effects of portal vein reconstruction after liver transplantation in recipients with diffuse portal vein thrombosis(PVT).Methods:Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 10 PVT patients undergoing liver transplantation(LT)from January 2014 to June 2019. There were 8 males and 2 females with a age of (50.7±10.1)years. The follow-up period was (66.3±25.8)months. Diameter of portal vein anastomosis, diameter and flow velocity of portal vein and presence of ascites were evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound. And computed tomography(CT)was employed for assessing the presence of esophagogastric varices. And patency of portal vein blood flow, therapeutic outcomes of portal hypertension and survival status of recipients were evaluated.Results:Among 7 patients with diffuse PVT without enlarged collaterals, cavoportal hemitransposition( n=6) and renoportal anastomosis( n=1) were performed.Ascites subsided gradually and minimal ascites( n=4) perdisted.Variceal bleeding did not recur within 6 months.As of December 2021, portal vein blood flow remained unobstructed in 4 recipients and 3 patients died.One case of inferior vena cava thrombosis and renal injury at 3 months post operation died of multiple organ failuer at 8 months post-operation.Another patient died of recurrent hepatocarcinoma at 11 months post-operation.Another case died of stroke at 44 months post-operation.Among 3 patients with diffuse PVT complicated with enlarged collaterals, there were right gastric vein to portal vein anastomosis( n=1), gastric coronary vein to portal vein anastomosis( n=1) and pericholedochalvarix to portal anastomosis( n=1). Ascites gradually subsided within 2 months post-operation.Portal vein anastomosis thrombosis was formed 1 month after operation and racanalizated after anticogulation and thrombosis therapies in patient with gastric coronary vein to portal vein anastomosis.Upper gastroinstestinal hemorrhage occurred 36 months after operation and was relieved by endoscopic ligation and sclerotherapy.Blood flow of portal vein was unobstructed in patients with right gastric vein and pericholedochalvarix to portal vein anastomosis.During the last follow-up, velocity of portal vein surpassed 20 cm/s and liver function remained normal in 7 survivors. Conclusions:For patients with complex PVT, portal vein reconstruction may ensure sufficient portal vein blood flow of graft. After operation, portal hypertension disappears and liver function normalizes.