Endovascular stent placement for interposed middle hepatic vein graft occlusion after living-donor liver transplantation using right-lobe graft

Abstract

Middle hepatic vein (MHV) reconstruction is performed to drain the right paramedian sector to prevent hepatic venous congestion (HVC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate endovascular stent placement in patients with stenosed and/or occluded interposition vein graft (IVG) to segment V hepatic vein (V5) and segment VIII hepatic vein (V8) after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The procedure was performed in 11 recipients; 7 underwent it within 24 hours of LDLT. The following parameters, including technical success, clinical success, complications, patient survival data, and serial computed tomography (CT) findings during follow-up, were documented retrospectively. Technical success was defined as both successful stent placement and resolution of stenosis or occlusion with copious flow of contrast medium through the stent, while clinical success was defined as both improvement of liver function tests (LFTs) and reduction or disappearance of hepatic low-attenuation areas on follow-up CT scans taken within 1 week of stent placement. Technical success was achieved in 10 of 11 patients (91%), and clinical success was achieved in 9 of 11 patients (82%). Acute thrombotic occlusion of the stent-inserted hepatic vein occurred in 1 patient 1 day following stent placement. During the mean follow-up period of 468 days (range, 13-891 days), 9 patients survived and 2 patients died. No death was directly related to stent placement or its related complications. The low-attenuation area in the involved hepatic segment V (S5) and/or VIII (S8) area prior to stent placement disappeared completely on follow-up CT scans performed at 3-12 days (mean, 5.4 days) after stent placement in all 9 patients with clinical success. No attenuation change occurred even in cases with chronic occlusion of the stent-inserted hepatic veins. In conclusion, though IVG to V5 and V8 remains controversial, the treatment of their stenosis or occlusion is safe and effective, even during their immediate postoperative period.