Catheter directed hepatic artery thrombolysis following liver transplantation. Case report and review of the literature

Hepatic artery thrombosis is the most frequent vascular complication following orthotopic liver transplantation, and often results in biliary complications, early graft loss and death. Surgical revascularization and retransplantation are considered the mainstay of treatment. However, intraarterial endovascular therapy is an alternative that has shown low morbidity and mortality, thereby avoiding the need for retransplantation. We describe a case of orthotopic liver transplantation complicated with hepatic artery thrombosis that was successfully treated with endovascular therapy.

[Twelve years of liver transplant at the San José-Tec De Monterrey Hospital]

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation is the only curative alternative for patients with end stage liver disease or acute liver failure.

AIM

To report the experience of a single transplant center in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-five transplants in 54 adult patients were analyzed between 1999 and 2011 in a single private institution. All grafts were obtained from deceased donor. Surgical technique, donor and recipient demographics, complications, causes of death and overall survival are described. Results were expressed as range and percentages. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was done to analyze patient and graft survival.

RESULTS

Main cause of cirrhosis was hepatitis C virus infection followed by alcohol intake. A 16% of patients developed biliary complications without graft loss, and vascular complications were observed in 15%. Patient survival at one and five years was 83% and 76%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Complication rates and survival in our center are comparable to those in the United States and Europe.