Severe outflow block syndrome caused by compression by the swollen caudate lobe after living donor liver transplantation: report of a case

Surg Today. 2012 Jan;42(2):177-80. doi: 10.1007/s00595-011-0037-0. Epub 2011 Nov 25.

Abstract

A 50-year-old man with primary biliary cirrhosis underwent living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) using a graft of a left hemiliver with a left caudate lobe and duct-to-duct hepaticocholedochostomy. Postoperative bile leakage necessitated percutaneous drainage 22 days after LDLT. The patient presented to our hospital 205 days after the LDLT with abdominal distension and fever. Computed tomography showed ascites and a diffusely mottled pattern in the graft. The caudate lobe was swollen, and its bile ducts were dilated. The inferior vena cava was forced to the right by the swollen caudate lobe, and the root of the hepatic vein was stretched. The hepatic vein was not contrasted. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed a biliary anastomotic stricture. Based on these findings, we diagnosed a severe outflow block of the hepatic vein and biliary anastomotic stricture. We performed balloon dilation of the biliary anastomosis and implanted a metallic stent in the hepatic vein. Thereafter, his clinical symptoms improved dramatically.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome / etiology*
  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome / therapy
  • Catheterization / methods
  • Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
  • Constriction, Pathologic / diagnosis
  • Constriction, Pathologic / etiology
  • Constriction, Pathologic / therapy
  • Edema / complications*
  • Edema / diagnosis
  • Edema / therapy
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hepatic Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Hepatic Veins / pathology*
  • Hepatic Veins / surgery
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver / surgery
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / surgery
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Liver Transplantation / methods
  • Living Donors*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stents
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed