Retransplantation of the liver after side-to-side caval anastomosis.
Caval reconstruction in orthotopic liver transplantation is generally performed by two end-to-end anastomoses, using a portal and caval-axillary bypass to sustain hemodynamic stability. In the "piggy-back" modification, the donor's suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) is anastomosed end-to-side to the recipient's preserved IVC. We have used a recently described variant of the piggyback in 18 patients in whom both IVCs are anastomosed side-to-side. We report two patients who needed three retransplants after this reconstruction and conclude that regrafting can be performed in a quick and safe manner.
Mosimann
F
F
Department of Surgery, University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
Gillet
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery