title: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of hepatic artery stenosis in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation: mid-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to present our experience with percutaneous treatment of hepatic artery stenosis in orthotopic liver transplant patients and to evaluate the efficacy, technical outcomes, and mid-term clinical results of the procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTAs) were performed in 19 liver transplant recipients at our institution between 1998 and 2010. Stents were placed into the hepatic/celiac artery in 16 PTAs, but balloon dilatation alone was performed in 6 because of the anatomical condition of the vessel. PTA/stenting was indicated in 17 patients because of elevated liver enzymes; 2 patients were asymptomatic. The objective of treating stenosis was prevention of long-term complications, including thrombosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success was achieved in all patients. There was only one complication: dissection of the treated artery without any subsequent adverse effects. In all patients, elevated liver enzyme levels improved after treatment. No restenosis was observed in any patient during a mean follow-up of 2.6 years (1 month to 5.5 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous angioplasty/stent placement is a safe method for the treatment of hepatic artery stenosis after orthotopic liver transplantation, with a high technical success rate and promising mid-term results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, ZRIR IKEM, Vídeňská 1958/9, 14021 Praha 4, Czech Republic. jala@ikem.cz
authors.forename: Jarmila
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laštovičková
authors.forename: Laštovičková
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jarmila
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peregrin
authors.forename: Peregrin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D017130:Angioplasty; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler