Vascular complications after living donor liver transplantation: a Brazilian, single-center experience

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), vascular complications are more frequently seen than in deceased donor transplantation. Early arterial, portal vein, or hepatic vein thromboses are complications that can lead to graft loss and patient death. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, treatment, and outcome of vascular complications after LDLT in a single Brazilian center.

Between December 2001 and December 2010, we performed 130 LDLT. Sixty-four recipients were children (27 weighing <10 kg).

Nine recipients had vascular complications. Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in 4 (3.1%), portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in 3 (2.3%), and hepatic vein thrombosis (HVT) and hepatic arterial stenosis (HAS) in 1 (0.8%) patient each. Complications were identified by Doppler and confirmed by angiography or angiotomography. Patients with HAT were listed for retransplantation. One died before retransplant. Two children were submitted to retransplantation; one is still alive, with neurologic sequelae. One adult with HAT was retransplanted with a deceased donor graft and is doing well 58 months after surgery. Two patients with PVT died as a consequence of graft malfunction. In the other case, portal vein arterialization was performed, but patient died 11 months posttransplant. HVT was detected after cardiac reanimation and was treated with an endovascular stent. This patient died 3 months after LDLT. HAS was diagnosed after liver abscess development and was successfully treated by endovascular angioplasty. No recurrence was observed after 22 months. Follow-up ranged from 9 to 117 months.

Pediatric patients are more prone to develop vascular complications after LDLT. Long-term survival was statistically lower for recipients with vascular complications (33.3% vs 77.7%; P = .008).