Infrahepatic terminolateral cavocavostomy: a case report

Infrahepatic vena cavocavostomy has been reported to be a rescue therapy when venous outflow from a liver allograft is obstructed due to stenosis of a piggyback anastomosis. The authors have described herein two consecutive adult liver transplantations using this technique as the primary venous anastomosis. Using a caval clamp positioned above the retrohepatic portion, partial hemodynamic obstruction of caval flow was well tolerated, avoiding use of a venovenous bypass. Although additional studies regarding this technique are needed, we believe that an infrahepatic vena cavocavostomy should be considered to be an alternative technique in carefully selected cases.