Hemorrhagic complications commonly occur early after liver transplantation (LT), sometimes requiring emergent relaparotomy. However, active bleeding from the liver graft itself is a rare but life-threatening complication after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We report an unusual case of liver laceration with massive bleeding, associated with severe epileptic seizures as a result of tacrolimus-induced leukoencephalopathy, after LDLT. The patient was successfully rescued by conventional surgical management without a second transplantation. In conclusion, to our knowledge this is the first reported case of graft rupture due to immunosuppression-associated leukoencephalopathy after LT.
Copyright 2005 AASLD