Liver retransplantation in an infant requiring cavoportal hemi transposition

Historically inability to achieve portal inflow to the liver allograft operatively was felt to be a contraindication to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx). Cavoportal hemi transposition has been utilized more recently in adult OLTx recipients but rarely in pediatric recipients. Here we report the case of a 10-month-old male with biliary atresia, who required urgent retransplantation with an in situ split cadaver donor allograft for failure of his first liver allograft from portal vein thrombosis. At the time of retransplantation, cavoportal hemi transposition was required to effect portal vein inflow to the allograft because of extensive thrombosis of the recipients portomesenteric venous system.