title: Permanent access to the portal system for cellular transplantation using an implantable port device.
abstract: A novel application of the implantable Port-a-Cath (PAC) system is described in the context of cellular transplantation. A silicone catheter was inserted in a collateral branch of the portal vein and connected to a port device positioned subcutaneously on the left thoracic cage. This permanent vascular access allowed iterative intraportal infusions of allogenic hepatocytes without the need of repeated transhepatic catheterization of the portal vein. Using this technique, repeated infusions of cryopreserved and / or fresh hepatocytes were successfully carried out in 3 children with inborn errors of liver metabolism, with the aim of progressively providing a sufficient mass of transplanted liver cells to stabilize the metabolic condition of the patients. We suggest that this technique might also be valuable in pancreatic islet cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Liver Transplant Program, Université catholique de Louvain, Saint-Luc University Clinics, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Darwish
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sokal
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Stephenne
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Najimi
authors.forename: Jean de Ville
authors.initials: Jde V
authors.lastname: de Goyet
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reding
mesh_terms: D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003414:Crigler-Najjar Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008642:Mesenteric Veins; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000601:surgery*; D011168:Portal System; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous