title: Rescue of acute portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation using a cavoportal shunt at re-transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal vein thrombosis is a rare but devastating complication following orthotopic liver transplantation. Fulminant liver failure ensues with acute portal vein thrombosis after transplantation limiting the treatment options.
  
  
  METHODS
  We successfully re-transplanted a 46-year-old female patient who developed acute portal vein thrombosis 19 d after orthotopic liver transplantation. Vascular reconstruction included a cavoportal shunt to augment portal blood flow.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve months after re-transplantation this patient lives independently and enjoys excellent liver allograft function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cavoportal shunt can augment portal blood flow in adult recipients of orthotopic liver transplants. This technique can be successfully employed during re-transplantation when portal blood flow is inadequate to maintain patency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakthavatsalam
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Healey
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kuhr
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D011168:Portal System; D011169:Portal Vein; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery*