Stent Placement for Treatment of Portal Vein Thrombosis in an Infant Liver Transplant Recipient

Abstract

A 7-month-old infant who was diagnosed as having biliary atresia and had undergone Kasai operation underwent liver transplantation using a reduced left lateral segment graft. Portal vein reconstruction was performed using a donor’s inferior mesenteric vein as a patch graft. Portal vein thrombosis was suspected by ultrasonography and confirmed by portal venography 8 days after the liver transplantation. She immediately underwent percutaneous transhepatic portal venoplasty with a metal stent (7 mm–4 cm), after which she needed anticoagulation therapy. Her portal vein flow has remained patent 6 months after the liver transplantation. Percutaneous transhepatic portal venoplasty with a metal stent was minimally invasive and effective in saving her life.